Benedict XVI's papacy ends; Catholics hope new pope named before Easter | News | GMA News Online

Benedict XVI's papacy ends; Catholics hope new pope named before Easter | News | 
GMA News Online:

"VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict left the Vatican on Thursday after pledging unconditional obedience to whoever succeeds him to guide the Roman Catholic Church at one of the most crisis-ridden periods in its 2,000-year history.   The first pope in six centuries to step down, Benedict flew off in a white Italian air force helicopter for the papal summer villa south of the capital where he took up temporary residence.   As the helicopter took off, he sent his last message on Twitter: "Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives".   Bells rang out from St Peter's Basilica and churches all over Rome as the helicopter circled Vatican City and flew over the Colosseum and other landmarks to give the pontiff one last view of the city where he is also bishop."

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Palace: Aquino 'fully aware' of Sabah shooting, wants peaceful solution | Repost

Palace: Aquino 'fully aware' of Sabah shooting, wants peaceful solution |
 News | GMA News Online:

"President Benigno Aquino III is "fully aware" of the reported firefight between Malaysian authorities and a group of armed Filipinos in Sabah, and instructed government officials to try to continue finding a "peaceful solution" to the problem, a Malacañang official said Friday. This developed as an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the shooting had stopped as of Friday noon. In a radio interview, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang also said the concerned Cabinet members may talk to their Malaysian counterparts for a peaceful resolution. "He (Aquino) is fully aware of what happened. [He wants to have] a peaceful solution to this," Carandang said in an interview on dzBB radio. He, however, declined to give further details, saying they are still "verifying" details of the incident. A separate report by dzBB's Benjie Liwanag Jr. said Aquino wants a peaceful solution to the incident within the day."

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Sulu Sultan's family: 'Blood has flowed,' 10 Pinoys killed in Sabah | Repost

Sulu Sultan's family: 'Blood has flowed,' 10 Pinoys killed in Sabah | News | 
GMA News Online:

"At least 10 of the Filipinos holed up at a village in Sabah had been killed and four wounded after Malaysian authorities fired on them, the camp of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III claimed on Friday noon. The sultan's daughter Princess Jacel Kiram made the claim at a press conference in Taguig City as she called for a stop to the bloodshed. "We suffered 14 casualties — 10 dead and four wounded. Blood has flowed," she said at the press conference, parts of which were aired on radio dzBB. Jacel said the fighting happened even though in the least two days, the Kirams had been "formal and informal talks" for a peaceful settlement to the situation. The princess called on the Malaysian government to clarify if it is engaging in a dialogue or a unilateral course of action. GMA News Online is still trying to verify the claim of the princess because of conflicting reports from Philippine officials, with some claiming the fighting has stopped and others saying it is still going on. " '