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A seagull stands on the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel, during the second day of voting for the election of a new pope at the Vatican on March 13.

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

Birds fly off the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on March 13 in Vatican City.

Birds squatting on the chimney on the Sistine Chapel have stolen the spotlight at the Vatican on Wednesday. Do they have some inside knowledge into who the next pope might be?

Related: Papal Seagull, harbinger of new pope, thrills Internet

Kacper Pempel / Reuters

A priest listens to a confession during Mass at the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw, Poland, Sept. 30, 2012.

Kacper Pempel / Reuters

Priests conduct Holy Mass at the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw Sept. 30, 2012.

Kacper Pempel / Reuters

A woman holds a rosary at a monastery at night prior to celebrations of the Assumption of Mary at Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, Poland, Aug. 14, 2012.

Kacper Pempel / Reuters

A Catholic prays in front of the picture of former Polish Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski a day prior to celebrations of the Assumption of Mary at Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland, Aug. 14, 2012.

Kacper Pempel / Reuters

Children play after Holy Mass in front of the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw, Poland, Sept. 30, 2012.

Kacper Pempel / Reuters

A nun, Eligia, holds a rosary as she leads a religion lesson at a public elementary school in Warsaw Oct. 4, 2012.

Kacper Pempel / Reuters

Catholic believers pray during the celebration of the Assumption of Mary at Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland, Aug.15, 2012.

Poland is one of the most devoutly Catholic countries in Europe and is the birthplace of the previous pope, the very popular John Paul II. Many Poles were surprised and worried to hear that Pope Benedict was stepping down. Some also compared his decision to the last years of Pope John Paul, who struggled to carry on in his role with failing health. One Polish cardinal said John Paul had stayed on as pontiff to the end, as he believed "you cannot come down from the cross." 

Reuters photographer Kacper Pempel, a native of Poland, spent the last several months documenting the Polish people practicing their faith and wrote about it in Reuters' Photographers Blog:
 

When Pope Benedict XVI announced last week that he was stepping down, the mood in my country, Poland, was overwhelming. This is one of the most devoutly Catholic countries in Europe, which still proudly identifies itself as the birthplace of Benedict’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II. On the day of the announcement my colleagues went to the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw. The worshipers coming out of the church were in a state of shock. “It’s so sad. It’s such a shame. But what can we do? I can’t believe it,” said one woman as she left the Holy Cross church in the Polish capital, who gave her name as Maria. “I  am very sorry because I really like the Pope. He is continuing the teachings of our Pope (John Paul II).” Janusz, another worshiper, said: “I don’t think it’s true. In my opinion it would not be a good solution. It would definitely be a huge pity for Poles and Catholics.” Continue reading.

Kacper Pempel / Reuters

A Catholic worshipper kisses a cross as she takes part in a night pilgrimage of roughly 16 miles from Blonie to Niepokalanow monastery, which is held every month in Blonie, near Warsaw, Poland, Oct. 13, 2012.

Vatican Press Office via AFP - Getty Images

Pope Benedict XVI leaves a consistorio Feb. 11 at The Vatican after announcing that he will step aside.

Osservatore Romano / Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI (third from right) attends a consistory at the Vatican on Feb. 11, 2013.

Published at 10:30 a.m. ET:

L'Osservatore Romano via AP

The pope and Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, hug each other after the pontiff announced that he would abdicate on Feb. 28.

By Claudio Lavanga and Alastair Jamieson, NBC News:Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday he will step aside as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics on Feb. 28, saying he no longer has the strength to carry out his duties.

Speaking in Latin, the 85-year-old announced his decision during an address at the "Concistory for the canonization of the martyrs of Otranto", a small event held early in the morning. Read full story

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Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

Two priests walk in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Feb. 11 after the announcement.

Gregorio Borgia / AP

Postcards of Pope Benedict XVI, bottom, and the late Pope John Paul II are displayed outside a kiosk with St. Peter's Basilica in the background at the Vatican on Feb. 11.

Alessandro Di Meo / EPA

The cross on top of the St. Peter's dome is reflected in a puddle following Pope Benedict XVI's announcement of his abdication on Feb. 11.

Slideshow: The life of Pope Benedict XVI

Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Look back at his life from childhood through his papacy.

Launch slideshow

Yoan Valat / EPA

Priests celebrate Notre Dame Cathedral's 850th anniversary in Paris, Dec. 12, 2012.

Patrick Kovarick / AFP - Getty Images

Archbishop Andre Vingt-Trois leads a Pontifical Mass during Notre Dame Cathedral's 850th anniversary in Paris, Dec. 12.

Associated Press reports — Dignitaries, tourists and Parisians gathered in the thousands Wednesday for a ceremony and Mass marking the beginning of year-long commemoration of Notre Dame Cathedral's 850th anniversary.

The 12th-century Gothic cathedral looming over the heart of the French capital will get a set of new bells in February, one of the highlights of a year's worth of planned events including seminars, concerts of sacred music and the issuance of commemorative stamps.

Archbishop Andre Vingt-Trois and Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe are among the civil and religious dignitaries taking part in Wednesday evening events marking the beginning of the cathedral's construction in 1163.

After the Mass, French Interior Minister Manuel Valls spoke in front of the huge wooden doors of the cathedral's Portal of the Last Judgment.

Noting that the cathedral had survived the reigns of "80 kings, two emperors and five republics," Valls said the cathedral's 850th anniversary "is moving for all who see in its towers the image of France in all its greatness."

Each year the cathedral sees 14 million visitors. Five Masses a day are held during the week, and seven on Sunday. The structure took nearly 90 years to build.

Yoan Valat / EPA

Priests take part in Notre Dame Cathedral's 850th anniversary ceremony in Paris, Dec. 12.

Yoan Valat / EPA

Priests celebrate Notre Dame Cathedral's 850th anniversary ceremony in Paris, Dec. 12.

Related Articles:

• New Bells with old sounds set to ring in Notre Dame’s 850^th anniversary
• Parisians dress for ‘white dinner at Notre Dame

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Victoria Bonn-meuser / EPA

Women in traditional Bavarian costumes sit on a decorated horse carriage as they take part in the annual Leonhardi ride at the Calvary in Bad Toelz, Germany, Nov. 6, 2012. Festively-decorated vehicles, drawn by horses, traditionally parade in Bavarian villages to honor Saint Leonhard of Limoges, who lived in the 6th century and is the patron of animals in agricultural use.

Matthias Schrader / AP

Horsemen steer carriages over a rain-sodden meadow during the traditional Leonhardi pilgrimage in Bad Toelz, Germany, Nov. 6. The annual pilgrimage honors St. Leonhard, patron saint of the highland farmers for horses and livestock.

Victoria Bonn-meuser / AFP - Getty Images

Women in traditional Bavarian costumes sit on a decorated horse carriage as they take part in the annual Leonhardi ride at the Calvary in Bad Toelz, Germany, Nov. 6.

Victoria Bonn-meuser / EPA

Women in traditional attire participate in the Leonhardi horse procession on a decorated cart in Bad Toelz, Germany, Nov.6.

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Rodrigo Abd / AP

A woman burns incense during a procession honoring "The Lord of Miracles," the patron saint of Lima, in Lima, Peru, Oct. 18, 2012.

Rodrigo Abd / AP

Under a rain of rose petals, people participate in a procession honoring "The Lord of Miracles," the patron saint of Lima, in Lima, Peru, Oct. 18.

Rodrigo Abd / AP

Women participate in a procession honoring "The Lord of Miracles," the patron saint of Lima, in Lima, Peru, Oct. 18.

Rodrigo Abd / AP

A police officer receives communion during a procession honoring "The Lord of Miracles," the patron saint of Lima, in Lima, Peru, Oct. 18.

Rodrigo Abd / AP

People participate in a procession honoring "The Lord of Miracles," the patron saint of Lima, in Lima, Peru, Oct. 18.

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Pope John Paul's coffin was exhumed on Friday ahead of his beatification as tens of thousands of people began arriving in Rome for one of the biggest events since his funeral in 2005.

The Vatican said the coffin was removed from the crypts below St. Peter's Basilica while top Vatican officials and some of the late pope's closest aides looked on and prayed. Continue reading.

Osservatore Romano via Reuters

The coffin containing the body of Pope John Paul II is exhumed ahead of his beatification in the Vatican April 29.

Osservatore Romano via Reuters

The coffin containing the body of Pope John Paul II is exhumed ahead of his beatification in the Vatican on April 29.

As the Vatican prepares to move the late pontiff one step closer to sainthood this Sunday, Rome has been caught up with beatification fever. Claudio Lavanga reports for NBC News:

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

Polish Catholic priests warm up on Feb. 12 ahead of the 14th Alpine Ski Championships for clergymen in Wisla, southern Poland.

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

Priests limber up before taking to the slopes.

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

A priest puts on his ski boots.

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

Priests take to the slopes.

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

A priest competes in the 14th Alpine Skiing Championships for clergymen.

I've hunted high and low for more information on this very special event, but all I can find is this tantalizing snippet from thenews.pl:

Skiers in clerical collars are out in force this weekend in the resort of Wisła in the Beskid Mountains for the national skiing championships for priests.

The leaders of the faith compete for the Pope John Paul II Cup in several Alpine disciplines, the main of which [sic] is the 800-metre-long giant slalom.

The tradition of such events goes back to the early 1980s. Click to see more of today's best images.

Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

A boy runs to hug Pope Benedict XVI as he leads a weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Feb. 2. The boy managed to sneak through security to greet the pontiff.

Tiziana Fabi / AFP - Getty Images

Pope Benedict XVI greets a child during his weekly general audience on Feb. 2 in Paul VI hall at The Vatican.

Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

A boy, who managed to sneak through security and reach the papal throne, is carried outside by security after he met Pope Benedict XVI during a weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Feb. 2.

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