MANILA, Philippines (AP) Filipinos in Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation attended Mass on Sunday with their church awkwardly having no pope for the first time in 600 years and prayed for the smooth rise of a successor to Benedict XVI to lead an embattled institution.

NPR: In Manila, Catholics Pray For Smooth Succession

The Roman Catholic Church leader spoke at a Mass in the Vatican, then greeted a crowd outside St Peter's Basilica.

BBC: Pope's new year address deplores rampant capitalism

More than 2, 000 cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests, as well as more than 10, 000 of the Roman Catholic faithful, joined the pope in celebrating Mass in St.

CNN: SHARE THIS