VATICAN-VIEWS

A photo taken on February 19, 2013 shows St Peter’s Basilica inside the Vatican City State. Pope Benedict XVI will be hosted in the convent of Mater Ecclesiae (Mother of the Church) offering him a substantial four-story modern home complete with contemporary chapel, garden and a roof terrace looking out from a rise dominated by the Holy See’s TV transmission tower. Pope Benedict XVI began a week-long spiritual retreat out of the public eye on February 18 ahead of his resignation on February 28 with the field of candidates to succeed him still wide open. AFP PHOTO/ Filippo MONTEFORTE