Pope leaves Vatican pledging loyalty to successor

Pope Benedict XVI resigned at 8 p.m. local time (Indian time – 12.30 a.m.) on Thursday. There was a farewell gathering with all of the cardinals present in Rome at 11am on Thursday morning.

Pope bade farewell to the pontifical household at 4.55 p.m on Thursday afternoon and departed by car from Vatican’s San Damaso courtyard. There, he  took his leave of Secretary of State officials and then proceeded to Vatican’s heliport, where he was  seen off by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of cardinals.  At 5.15 p.m. he left for Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian town some 30 kms from Rome.  At 5.30 p.m. he briefly greeted the faithful of the Diocese of Albano from the central balcony of the Apostolic Palace. That was the last public appearance of Pope Benedict XVI.

The “Sede Vacante” or Vacant See began at 8 p.m. of February 28.

When renovations on the monastery inside the walls of Vatican City are complete, Pope Benedict XVI will take up residence there and will lead a secluded life of prayer and meditation.

His official title will be “His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman pontiff emeritus. The Swiss Guards will no longer protect the pontiff, as they are charged with guarding only the pope.  He will continue to wear a white cassock, but no longer will be seen in red shoes. Instead, the pope has decided to wear a pair of brown shoes given to him at the papal visit to Mexico in 2012. His fisherman’s ring, which contains the pope’s formal seal, will also be destroyed.