CANADA AM and CTV News Channel Host Special Live Coverage of the Pope’s Historic Farewell, Wednesday & Thursday, Feb. 27 and 28

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TORONTO (February 26, 2013) – CTV News offers unparalleled coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s final days at the Vatican, as the College of Cardinals prepares to convene for the papal conclave. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 27 at 4:30 a.m. ET on CTV, CANADA AM hosts an early broadcast capturing the complete coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s final public address.

CANADA AM’s Beverly Thomson and Marci Ien host live coverage from Rome, documenting Pope Benedict XVI’s final words to the tens of thousands of faithful expected to attend. The hosts will be joined by a panel of experts including Father Michael Bechard, Chaplain at King’s University College; Michael Higgings, Vice President for Mission and Catholic Identity at Sacred Heart University; Gerry O’Connell of the Vatican Insider; and McGill historian John Zucchi. 

Then, on Thursday, Feb. 28 beginning at 10 a.m. ET, CTV News Channel hosts a live coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s final salute to the resident and visiting cardinals in Rome. At approximately 10:45 a.m. ET, CTV News Channel features expected coverage of the Pope in the San Damaso courtyard greeting Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State and stand-in for Pope until a successor is elected. At 11 a.m. ET, the Pope boards a helicopter and flies to Castel Gandolfo, landing at 11:30 a.m. ET, where he will stay for two months whilst renovation of his permanent residence in the Vatican is completed. Finally, shortly before 12 p.m. ET, Pope Benedict XVI will be received at Castel Gandolfo by the president and secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City, and civil authorities, and will appear at the balcony of the Apostolic Palace to greet the faithful present.

Further details about CTV News’ continued coverage of the Papal Conclave will soon be announced.

About CANADA AM
Now in its 40th Season, CANADA AM is Canada’s national morning newsmagazine. Since its launch in 1972, CANADA AM has brought Canadians a unique blend of hard news and lifestyle stories, featuring in-depth interviews with top newsmakers, celebrities and musical stars. Lis Travers is the Vice-President and Executive Producer for CANADA AM and Wendy Freeman is the President of CTV News.

About CTV News Channel
CTV News Channel is Canada’s 24-hour all-news network. CTV News Channel draws on the vast resources of Canada’s #1 news organization, CTV News, to deliver breaking news the second it happens from communities across Canada and around the world. CTV News Channel is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. For more information about CTV News Channel, visitwww.ctv.ca/newschannel.

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For more information, contact: 
Patricia Garcia, CTV Inc., 416.384.2645 or patricia.garcia@bellmedia.ca
Julie MacFarlane, CTV Inc., 416.384.4623 or julie.macfarlane@bellmedia.ca