Hall of Valor

David Gerardi, 22, of Moon Township, a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps is inducted into the Hall of Valor during a ceremony on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland. Gerardi, received the Silver Star for his actions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Rome: Pope Francis Greets Media

Pope Francis meets with journalists inside the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on March 16, 2013. In his first meeting with the media, Francis told the nearly 5,600 in attendance how he came to chose his name as pope.  When it became clear that he was going to receive the two-thirds majority necessary to become the new pontiff, a fellow cardinal from Brazil had told him "don't forget the poor."  Francis said, "Right away, with regard to the poor, I thought of St. Francis of Assisi, then I thought of war." "Francis loved peace and that is how the name came to me."  He added: "This is what I want, a poor church for the poor."  Francis also told the journalists, that spanned nearly 81 countries, "The role of mass media has become essential in modern times, so thank you...you have worked hard," he said to cheers and applause. To read more about Pope Francis, the historic conclave and thoughts about the Church and it's future, read Betsy Hiel's reporting in the The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Rome: Cardinal Donald Wuerl

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, 72, of Washington D.C. speaks to the media on Thursday at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, about Pope Francis and his election by the conclave. Cardinal Wuerl was the Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988-2006.  To read more about Cardinal Wuerl's thoughts read Betsy Hiel's reporting in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Rome: "Habemus Papam!"

White smoke billows from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel signaling that the College of Cardinals have elected a new pope on Wednesday evening, March 13, 2013 at the Vatican.

 Pope Francis I addresses the crowd at St. Peter's Square after becoming the 266th pontiff in the Catholic church's 2,000 year history.  

 People react after white smoke billows from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel and its bells ring out across the square, signaling that the College of Cardinals have elected a new pope on Wednesday evening, March 13, 2013 at the Vatican.

People await the new pope.

People react after the announcement of "Habemus Papam" (We have a new pope).

A woman prays as she awaits Pope Francis I.

 Argentinians wave their country's flag after the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected as the new spiritual leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Vatican.  Bergoglio took the papal name of Francis I and has become the 266 pontiff in the Church's 2,000-year history and the first non-European to be elected for almost 1,300 years.

 A nun stands in St. Peter's Square.

With the College of Cardinals filling the balconies of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis I addresses the crowd at St. Peter's Square after becoming the 266th pontiff in the Catholic church's 2,000 year history.  To read all about this historic night, read Betsy Hiel's reporting in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Rome: Waiting with Hope

Huddled beneath umbrellas, thousands of people fill St. Peter's Square as they await smoke to rise above the Sistine Chapel to reveal the outcome of Wednesday's votes by the College of Cardinals.

Rome: The Conclave Continues

 Black smoke billows out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican as cardinals failed twice on Wednesday morning  to elect a new pope.  The 115 voting cardinals will return again Wednesday later in the day to resume voting. The new pope must receive a two-thirds majority, or 77 votes to become the 266th pontiff.

 A woman stands in St. Peter's Square as thousands watch the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican spew black smoke again on Wednesday morning.

 Concetta Staltari, 19, of McCandles keeps an eye on the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican as thousands filled St. Peter's Square to await the smoke from the conclave.

 Nuns wait in St. Peter's Square.

 Betsy and Will Frederick, of Ft. Worth, Texas take photos as they wait in St. Peter's Square, joining thousands of others, watching the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel for the results of the morning votes by the conclave.

A couple holds each other as they wait in St. Peter's Square. To read more about the conclave and the historic events in Rome, read Betsy Hiel's reporting in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Rome: Humo Negro

 People gather in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday evening as they watch for smoke from the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel to signal the outcome of the first vote of the College of Cardinals during the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI. 

 People gather in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday evening.

 A priest watches for smoke in St. Peter's Square.

 A man watches for smoke from the Sistine Chapel to signal the outcome of the first vote of the College of Cardinals.

 People gather in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday evening as they watch for smoke from the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.

 Nuns stand in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday evening waiting for smoke from the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel to signal the outcome of the first vote of the College of Cardinals during the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI. 

 Black smoke billows out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on Tuesday evening, indicating that the first vote by the conclave to elect a new pope was inconclusive.  The 115 cardinals will return Wednesday morning to resume voting. The new pope must receive a two-thirds majority, or 77 votes to become the 266th pontiff.

A woman stands in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday evening after black smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the vote will not bring a new pope this evening.  To read more about the day's events check out Betsy Hiel's reporting from Rome in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Rome: Conclave Nears

 A nun stands in prayer in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Tuesday as Cardinals hold a pre-conclave mass inside as they prepare to vote to choose Pope Benedict XVI’s successor. 

 Cardinals enter St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Tuesday for their pre-conclave mass prior to voting to choose Pope Benedict XVI’s successor. 

 Guards stand watch at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

 A cardinal enters St. Peter's Basilica.

 A guard stands watch in one of the entrances to St. Peter's Basilica.

 A nun stands in prayer in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Tuesday as the College of Cardinals hold a pre-conclave mass inside the basilica as they prepare to vote to choose Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.  Pilgrims gathered outside to watch the mass on several big screens.

 A nun holds rosary beads as she stands in prayer in St. Peter's Square.

 A man stands in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Tuesday as rain begins to fall on pilgrims and tourists who gathered in the square on the first day of the conclave.

 A couple holds each other in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

 A pilgrims kneels in the rain in St. Peter's Square as the College of Cardinal's hold mass at St. Peter's Basilica.

 A woman prays in St. Peter's Square.

Tourists and pilgrims stand in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Tuesday as rain begins to fall on the first day of the conclave, where the College of Cardinals will vote for the first time to choose Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.  Read more about the conclave in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Rome: The Eve of Conclave

A man walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Monday afternoon, the eve of the start of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

Canadian Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican, after the cardinals' final general congregation.

 Canadian Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins is surrounded by police and security as he walks through St Peter's Square

German cardinal Walter Kasper walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican, after the cardinals' final general congregation meeting on Monday afternoon, the eve of the start of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

 Nigerian cardinal John Onaiyekan walks through St Peter's Square

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican

 Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican

 Nuns from Mexico walk through St Peter's Square at the Vatican on the eve of the start of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

A man reads the newspaper in St Peter's Square.

Rome: Duquesne University Rome

Michael Wright, (left) Director of Duquesne University's Italian Campus, stands in a classroom as Samuel Celotto, Assistant Resident Director, speaks to students at the school's campus in Rome.

 Tracy Stanton, 20, of Plymouth, MA., a student at Duquesne University's Italian Campus, takes notes during an on-site class in Rome.

 Michael Wright speaks to students in a classroom at the school's campus in Rome.

 Erika Ciesielski, 20, of Scott Township, a student at Duquesne University's Italian Campus, takes notes during an on-site class in Rome.

The clocks at Duquesne University's Italian Campus show the local time in Rome as well as the time in Pittsburgh. To read more about Duquesne University in Rome and it's students check out Betsy's Hiel's reporting in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Rome: Mass at St. Peter in Chains

 Cardinal Donald Wuerl, 72, of Washington D.C. sits during a mass on Sunday at his titular church in Rome, San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains).  Cardinal Wuerl was assigned the church by Pope Benedict XVI.  The church, which was built around 432-440 AD, during the pontificate of Pope Sixtus III, houses the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter while he was imprisoned in Jerusalem.

 Priests pray during Cardinal Donald Wuerl's mass at San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains).

 A nun listens during mass at San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) on Sunday.

Michelangelo's Moses sits on the side of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) in Rome.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl holds mass at his titular church in Rome, San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) on Sunday.  Cardinal Wuerl was the Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988-2006.  

Cardinal Donald Wuerl prays during mass.

One of the many interesting pieces that adorn the walls of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) in Rome.

 Cardinal Donald Wuerl sits during mass on Sunday at his titular church in Rome.

 Priests pray during Cardinal Donald Wuerl's mass on Sunday.

The ceiling at San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains).

 Cardinal Donald Wuerl performs communion from the high altar above the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter while he was imprisoned in Jerusalem.

 Cardinal Donald Wuerl greets parishioners after mass on Sunday in Rome. 

Rome: Awaiting the Conclave

 A man holds a rosary in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Saturday.

 The chimney which will signal to the world the election of a new pope is installed on the top of the Sistine Chapel on Saturday afternoon in Vatican City.  The College of Cardinals will gather on Tuesday for the start of the conclave, the secret papal election.

 A cardinal leaves the Vatican after Saturday morning's General Congregations, where the College of Cardinals met in preparation for the conclave that will begin on March 12th to choose the 266th pope.

 People stand in St. Peter's Square on Saturday shortly after the chimney which will signal to the world the election of a new pope was installed on the top of the Sistine Chapel.  As the chimney was raised, applause and cheers filled the square as many gathered, anxiously awaiting Tuesday's conclave.

 Cardinals leave the Vatican after Saturday morning's General Congregations.

Tourists walk through the colonnades of St. Peter's Square.