THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Catholic Church has awoken with no leader following Benedict XVI's resignation, in which he described himself as "simply a pilgrim" starting the final part of his life.
Now begins a period known as the "sede vacante" or "vacant see" - the transition between the end of one papacy and the election of a new pope.
The Vatican post office issued a set of stamps for use during the "Sede Vacante". The unusual interregnum stamps, a series of four, include the Vacant See symbol - a striped umbrella over crossed keys - as well as the words Sede Vacante, Citta del Vaticano and MMXIII, the year in Roman numerals.
The stamps have a face value of 70 euro cents for Italy, 85 cents for Europe and the Mediterranean, two euros for Africa, Asia and the United States and 2.50 euros for Australia.
During these few days - no more than 20 - a few key players take charge running the Holy See, guiding the College of Cardinals in their deliberations and organising the conclave to elect Benedict's successor. » | Source: AP | Friday, March 01, 2013
