Vatican City, Feb 13, 2013 / 16:05 pm
Given the number of people that inevitably swarmed to the Holy Father's last public Mass, Benedictine Abbot Nokter Wolf understands why his monastery did not host the Pope.
"This is the last public concelebration of Benedict XVI before he leaves the pontificate. So that's the reason which is given, and I understand that well," said Abbott Wolf in a Feb. 12 interview with CNA.
Pope Benedict celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 13, the first day of the Lenten season.
The basilica was filled to capacity as thousands flooded into the church to see the Holy Father, who announced just days ago that he will step down at the end of the month due to declining strength.