VATICAN: Roman Pontiff Emeritus Benedict XVI to Work for the Good of the Church and of Humanity
Yesterday afternoon, shortly after 5:00pm,
Benedict XVI left the Vatican for the last time as Supreme Pontiff. A few moments
earlier, in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., secretary of State of His Holiness, and other members
of that dicastery bid him farewell. In full military regalia, the Swiss Guard
troops paid him homage. Also present were Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar
general of Rome, and Cardinal Angelo Comastri, vicar general of His Holiness
for Vatican City. Many of the workers of the Vatican City State, with their
families, were also in attendance and greeted the Pope with warm applause.
Benedict XVI left the Vatican for the last time as Supreme Pontiff. A few moments
earlier, in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., secretary of State of His Holiness, and other members
of that dicastery bid him farewell. In full military regalia, the Swiss Guard
troops paid him homage. Also present were Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar
general of Rome, and Cardinal Angelo Comastri, vicar general of His Holiness
for Vatican City. Many of the workers of the Vatican City State, with their
families, were also in attendance and greeted the Pope with warm applause.
Before leaving the Vatican, Benedict XVI
issued his last tweet: “Thank you for your love and support. May you always
experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives.”
issued his last tweet: “Thank you for your love and support. May you always
experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives.”
Shortly afterwards the Holy Father,
accompanied by his private secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the
Papal Household, took a car to the Vatican heliport where the dean of the
College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, greeted him and he boarded the
helicopter that carried him to Castel Gandolfo. As the helicopter lifted off,
the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica and the churches of Roma began ringing.
accompanied by his private secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the
Papal Household, took a car to the Vatican heliport where the dean of the
College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, greeted him and he boarded the
helicopter that carried him to Castel Gandolfo. As the helicopter lifted off,
the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica and the churches of Roma began ringing.
The Pope whisked by a white helicopter in dramatic fashion over the Vatican City, then over the city of
Rome, passing by the Colosseum and St. John Lateran Basilica, and landed at the
Castel Gandolfo heliport just after 5:20pm. Awaiting the Holy Father were
Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello and Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca, respectively president
and secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State along with
Saverio Petrillo, director of the Pontifical Villas, Bishop Marcello Semeraro
of the Diocese of Albano, and civil and religious authorities of the area. The
Pope was then taken by car to the Castel Gandolfo Apostolic Palace, where he
was greeted by hundreds of people while the bells of Castel Gandolfo’s parishes
rang out.
Shortly afterwards, Benedict XVI appeared at
the balcony of the Apostolic Palace and said to the many faithful who were
waiting to thank him for his pontificate: “Thank you. Thank you all. Dear
friends, I am happy to be with you, surrounded by the beauty of Creation and
your well wishes, which do me such good. Thank you for your friendship and your
affection. You know that this day is different for me than the preceding ones.
I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, or I will be until
8:00 this evening and then no longer. I am simply a pilgrim beginning the last
leg of his pilgrimage on this earth. But I would still—with my heart, with my
love, with my prayers, with my reflection, and with all my inner strength—like
to work for the common good and the Good of the Church and of humanity. I feel
very supported by your kindness. Let us go forward with the Lord for the good
of the Church and the world. Thank you. I now wholeheartedly impart my blessing.
Blessed be God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Good night! Thank you
all!”
the balcony of the Apostolic Palace and said to the many faithful who were
waiting to thank him for his pontificate: “Thank you. Thank you all. Dear
friends, I am happy to be with you, surrounded by the beauty of Creation and
your well wishes, which do me such good. Thank you for your friendship and your
affection. You know that this day is different for me than the preceding ones.
I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, or I will be until
8:00 this evening and then no longer. I am simply a pilgrim beginning the last
leg of his pilgrimage on this earth. But I would still—with my heart, with my
love, with my prayers, with my reflection, and with all my inner strength—like
to work for the common good and the Good of the Church and of humanity. I feel
very supported by your kindness. Let us go forward with the Lord for the good
of the Church and the world. Thank you. I now wholeheartedly impart my blessing.
Blessed be God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Good night! Thank you
all!”
Benedict XVI’s pontificate concludes at
8:00pm this evening (Rome time), at which time the period of the Sede Vacante
begins. The Swiss Guards will no longer be in charge of his safekeeping—which
detail will then be undertaken by the Vatican Gendarmerie—and will return to
the Vatican to offer their service to the College of Cardinals. During this
period the twitter account @Pontifex will be deactivated. Once elected, the new
Pope may, if he so desires, take over its use. Benedict XVI’s Fisherman’s Ring
and the seal of his pontificate will also be destroyed at that time and the
papal apartments in the Vatican Palace will be sealed.
8:00pm this evening (Rome time), at which time the period of the Sede Vacante
begins. The Swiss Guards will no longer be in charge of his safekeeping—which
detail will then be undertaken by the Vatican Gendarmerie—and will return to
the Vatican to offer their service to the College of Cardinals. During this
period the twitter account @Pontifex will be deactivated. Once elected, the new
Pope may, if he so desires, take over its use. Benedict XVI’s Fisherman’s Ring
and the seal of his pontificate will also be destroyed at that time and the
papal apartments in the Vatican Palace will be sealed.
SOURCE: Vatican
Information Service (VIS)
Information Service (VIS)
