Osservatore Romano / Reuters

Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave in order to elect a successor to Pope Benedict, in a still image taken from video at the Vatican March 12. Shut off from the outside world, the 115 cardinals will cast their ballots in a chapel which has Michelangelo's soaring Last Judgment on one wall, and his depiction of the hand of God giving life to Adam above them.

AP

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, cardinals, in red, and faithful attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 12. Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday to elect the next pope amid more upheaval and uncertainty than the Catholic Church has seen in decades: There's no front-runner, no indication how long voting will last and no sense that a single man has what it takes to fix the many problems.

Slideshow: Electing a pope

Andrew Medichini / AP

Cardinals from around the world gather in the Vatican to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

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Jerome Delay / AP

A Kenyan woman walks through the African Inland Church in the Kibera Slum of Nairobi, Kenya, on March 10, one day after Uhuru Kenyatta was declared winner in the Kenyan presidential elections.

One morning in January 2008, more than 200 young men armed with crude weapons stormed the Africa Inland Church in the Kibera Slum of Nairobi, Kenya, and seized a generator that they then set on fire. The explosion tore through the roof, creating one of the most visible scenes of post-election violence after Kenya's disputed election of 2007. 

The dark spot is a constant reminder of the church's vulnerability during national elections. But for Rev. Joshua Kimuyu there was no question of keeping its doors shut this Sunday, the day after Kenya's election commission announced the winner of the East African country's fiercely contested presidential election. This time, Kimuyu said, there was nothing to fear after the two leading candidates -winner Uhuru Kenyatta and loser Raila Odinga -pleaded for calm and unity. Continue reading.

--The Associated Press

Slideshow: Kenyans vote in crucial election

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Five years after more than 1,200 people were killed in election-related violence, Kenyans went to the polls in a nationwide election seen as the most important in the country's 50-year history since independence.

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Previously on PhotoBlog:

• 'Spoiled' ballots could be critical as Kenya anxiously awaits election results
• Kenya braces for elections, Odinga supporters rally

Mahmoud Ilean / AP

Israeli forces enter the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on March 8, 2013. Clashes erupted between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli forces during Friday prayers.

Ammar Awad / Reuters

Palestinians react to tear gas fired by Israeli police during clashes after Friday prayers at a compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City on March 8, 2013.

Mostafa Alkharouf / Reuters

An Israeli police officer falls, engulfed in flames after Palestinian protesters threw firebombs during clashes in Jerusalem's Old City on March 8, 2013.

Bernat Armangue / AP

A Palestinian man is detained by Israeli security forces in Jerusalem's Old City on March 8, 2013.

Ammar Awad / Reuters

A Palestinian woman covers her face as a stun grenade fired by Israeli police explodes nearby during clashes in Jerusalem's Old City on March 8, 2013.

Abir Sultan / EPA

A Palestinian man argues with Israeli police in the Old City of Jerusalem on March 8, 2013.

Bernat Armangue / AP

A Palestinian street vendor walks past Israeli security forces in Jerusalem's Old City on March 8, 2013.

By Lawahez Jabari, Producer, NBC News

TEL AVIV, Israel - Dozens of Israeli security officers and Palestinian worshipers clashed at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on Friday, amid rising tensions ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama. 

Al-Aqsa is one of Islam's holiest sites. It is also revered by Jews as the site of their Biblical temple.

Some have blamed a 2000 visit to the area by then-Likud leader Ariel Sharon and Israeli security forces for helping to spark the Palestinians' Second Uprising -- or Intifada. Read the full story.

This story was originally published on Fri Mar 8, 2013 9:32 AM EST

Alessandro Di Meo / EPA

The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, Pope's summer residence, on the outskirts of Rome. Pope Benedict XVI will officially step down on Feb. 28. On the last day of his pontificate, the Pope is due to take a helicopter to Castel Gandolfo where he will stay during the conclave.

Alessandro Di Meo / EPA

Gardens at Castel Gandolfo

By Alastair Jamieson, Staff writer, NBC News

Pope Benedict will leave his residence inside the Vatican and travel by helicopter to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, about 15 miles south-east of Rome at about 4.55 p.m. local time (10:55 a.m. ET) Thursday. His papacy will officially end at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET).

After stepping down, the pope will keep his name, His Holiness Benedict XVI, but get a new official title, "Emeritus Pope." The Vatican on Tuesday said he would wear a simple white cassock and swap his traditional red shoes for a pair of brown leather loafers he was given on his trip to Leon in Mexico last year. Continue reading.

Editor's note: These pictures were taken on Feb. 20 and 21.

Gregorio Borgia / AP

A grotto

Alessandro Di Meo / EPA

The Chinese Room

Alessandro Di Meo / EPA

A light switch bears the Papal seal.

Alessandro Di Meo / EPA

Details of a chair inside the Chinese Room

Max Rossi / Reuters

A view of Castel Gandolfo lake is seen from inside the summer residence of Pope Benedict XVI in Castel Gandolfo.

Franco Origlia / Getty Images

The Apostolic Palace and the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo on Lake Albano will be Pope Benedict XVI's residence during the next Conclave, in Rome, Italy.

Related content:

• 'It seemed like the Lord was sleeping': In final speech, pope tells of 'choppy seas'
• Pope asks enthusiastic Vatican crowd to pray for him as well as successor
• Pope surprises the world, says that he will step down

Slideshow: Pope Benedict XVI's departure

Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images

The pope delivers his final audience in St. Peter's Square as he prepares to stand down.

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Rungroj Yongrit / EPA

Thousands of Thai Buddhist monks chant during a lantern lighting to celebrate Makha Bucha day at Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 25, 2013.

Pornchai Kittiwongsakul / AFP - Getty Images

Buddhist monks hold candles as they walk around a Pagoda on Makha Bhucha Day at the Dhammakaya Temple, Feb, 25, 2013.

Kerek Wongsa / Reuters

Buddhist monks pray at the Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple on Makha Bucha Day Feb. 25, 2013.

Monks gathered to celebrate Makha Bucha Day in Thailand where they lit candles to commemorate two events during the Buddha’s lifetime that occurred on the same date, but 45 years apart. The first was the ordainment of 1,250 monks who came from all over, and the second was the delivering of the Buddha’s teachings shortly before his death. Both events happened on the full moon of the third lunar month. 

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.

Kevin Frayer / AP

Hindu holy man Baba Sanjay poses before and after he had his head and face shaved as part of an initiation ritual where he was to become a Naga Sadhu.

Kevin Frayer, a photographer with The Associated Press, took a series of photos of Hindu holy men before and after they had their beards and hair shaved off as part of the initiation ritual to become Naga Sadhus — naked holy men — at the Maha Kumbh Festival in Allahabad, India.

The initiation of new Naga Sadhus can only be performed at the Kumbh Mela, which occurs once every 12 years and sees millions of devotees converging at the confluence of three holy rivers: the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

Editor's note: Photos taken on Feb. 13, 2013 and made available to NBC News today.

Kevin Frayer / AP

Baba Ramshwal.

Kevin Frayer / AP

Brihaspst Giri.

Kevin Frayer / AP

Baba Vinod.

Kevin Frayer / AP

Baba Giri.

Daniel Becerril / Reuters

Catholics pray near windows covered partially with cement blocks inside St. Teresa of Avila church in Monterrey, Mexico, on Feb. 17, 2013.

Daniel Becerril / Reuters

A green light indicates there is no danger as a priest distributes Holy Communion to the congregation inside the church.

A church in the Mexican city of Monterrey has set up extreme security measures to protect worshippers, bricking up its windows and introducing a traffic light system to warn churchgoers if a crime is taking place nearby.

During mass, a green light is activated above a side door of the St. Teresa of Avila church to indicate that there is no sign of danger outside.

When the amber light is lit, it indicates caution, while the red light represents danger from criminal activity, such as a shooting, taking place near the church.

A concrete wall has also been constructed in front of the main facade of the church. 

Daniel Becerril / Reuters

A concrete wall has been built in front of St. Teresa of Avila church.

Last week, Mexico's new administration offered the first details of a long-touted shift in the country's war on drugs, saying the government will spend $9.2 billion this year on social programs meant to keep young people from joining criminal organizations in the 251 most violent towns and neighborhoods across the country. 

"It's clear that we must put special emphasis on prevention, because we can't only keep employing more sophisticated weapons, better equipment, more police, a higher presence of the armed forces in the country as the only form of combating organized crime," President Enrique Pena Nieto said.

-- Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related:

6 arrested in Acapulco tourists' rape

Mexicans weary of drug gangs form vigilante patrols

Slideshow: Mexico's drug war, drug culture

Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

Faithful shout slogans as Pope Benedict XVI leads the Sunday Angelus in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, Feb. 17. Pope Benedict, speaking before a larger than usual crowd at his penultimate Sunday address, asked the faithful to pray for him and for the next pope.

Tony Gentile / Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful.

The crowd chanted "Long live the pope!," waved banners and broke into sustained applause as he spoke from his window. The 85-year-old Benedict, who will resign on February 28, thanked them in several languages.
 

Speaking in Spanish, he told the crowd which the Vatican said numbered more than 50,000: "I beg you to continue praying for me and for the next pope".

-- By Philip Pullella, Reuters

Read the full story.

Updated Mach 5: Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his final general audience on Feb. 27, in Vatican City. (Christopher Furlong  / Getty Images)

Prakash Mathema / AFP - Getty Images

Exiled Tibetans take part in a candlelight vigil following the self-immolation attempt by a monk earlier in Kathmandu, Nepal, Feb. 13.

Narendra Shrestha / EPA

Tibetans-in-exhile attend a candlelit vigil after a Tibetan man self-immolated at Boudhanath in Kathmandu on Feb. 13.

Niranjan Shrestha / AP

An Exiled Tibetan participates in a candle light vigil in solidarity with fellow Tibetans who have self-immolated, in Katmandu, Feb. 13.

Exiled Tibetans in Kathmandu, Nepal, participated in a candle light vigil Wednesday to show solidarity with fellow Tibetans who have self-immolated as a protest against Chinese rule. Earlier in the day, a monk doused himself with gasoline in a Kathmandu restaurant at Boudhanath Stupa, one of the world's holiest Buddhist shrines, and set himself on fire, marking the 100th self-immolation attempt since 2009.

• China detains 70 in bid to crack down on Tibet self-immolation protests

Jitendra Prakash / Reuters

Hindu pilgrims crowd to board a train at an overcrowded railway station in the northern Indian city of Allahabad on Feb. 11. A stampede at a railway station in Allahabad killed at least 36 Hindu pilgrims on Sunday. Twenty-seven of the dead were women, mostly elderly and poor. An eight-year-old girl was also crushed to death.

Rajesh Kumar Singh / AP

Hindu devotees returning from Maha Kumbh jostle to get in a coach of a train at the main railway station of Allahabad, India, on Feb. 11.

Published at 12:30 p.m. ET:

Reuters reports: A stampede at a railway station in northern India killed at least 36 Hindu pilgrims on Sunday, the busiest day of the world's largest religious festival at which some 30 million had gathered to wash away their sins in the sacred Ganges river.

Twenty-seven of the dead were women, mostly elderly and poor. An eight-year-old girl was also crushed to death. A Reuters witness saw a woman weeping at the train station, surrounded by six bodies dressed in brightly colored saris. Read full story

Jitendra Prakash / Reuters

Hindu pilgrims sit on railways tracks as they wait to board their trains at an overcrowded railway station in the northern Indian city of Allahabad on Feb. 11.

Manish Swarup / AP

Hindu devotee returning from Maha Kumbh festival travel in an luggage van of a train from the main railway station of Allahabad on Feb. 13.

Harish Tyagi / EPA

Two unidentified Indian men who reportedly lost their sister in a deadly stampede comfort each other outside a mortuary in Allahabad on Feb. 11.

Rajesh Kumar Singh / AP

Relatives of the missing look at photos of victims of a stampede outside a hospital morgue in Allahabad on Feb. 11.

Previously on PhotoBlog:

• Stampede at Indian railway platform
• Millions converge on Ganges for world's largest (and still growing) religious festival

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