Some interesting law & religion stories from around the web this week:
- On Thursday, the Pope left the Vatican, pledging loyalty to his successor
- Transcript of Pope Benedict XVI’s final public address in St. Peter’s Square
- Sede vacante, the period of the “empty seat,” subject to a strict code of regulations
- Pope Benedict XVI wrote three encyclicals; the fourth will not be published
- Cardinal Keith O’Brien resigns as Archbishop, leaves Britain unrepresented at papal conclave
- Ethiopia elects new leader for the Orthodox Church
- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) makes formal submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Recent incidents of anti-semitism reported to reflect a growing wave of hatred toward Jews across Europe
- Arkansas Democratic Gov. Beebe vetoed a ban on most abortions, arguing that the ban runs afoul of Roe v. Wade
- After attempted assassination of Hedegaard, an anti-Islamic polemicist, Danish Muslims defend his right to free speech
- An Italian apparel company registered “Jesus” as a trademark in the United States, and is now preparing for infringement battles