Pope Benedict XVI officially ended his reign as the leader of the Catholic Church as he left Vatican in the afternoon of February 28 after addressing the cardinals and supporters who flocked the St. Peter’s Square. Riding a chopper that brought him to Castel Gandolfo where he will be staying for two months until the monastery in the grounds of Vatican is finish where he will fully retire. Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement of his retirement last February 11 making him the second pontiff to do that which the first one was Pope Gregory XII in 1415. Pope Benedict XVI’s retirement will take effect at 8PM (Rome, Italy time) of February 28 and from the title of pope, he will be addressed as Pontiff Emeritus and will still have the introduction as his holiness.
Pope Benedict XVI succeeded Pope John Paul II in April 19, 2005 after his death in April 2. Pope Benedict XVI or Joseph Ratzinger is the first German Pope in the history of Catholic Church. His reason for resignation is his incapability to fulfill his duty due to old age. Before he ended his term the Holy Father did his last Eucharistic service in Vatican last February 27 in front of more than a million faithfuls. His more 8 years of being the leader of the Roman Chatholic he faces issues concerning members of the church being dragged on scandals and anomalies.
Pope Benedict XVI posted on his twitter @Pontifex he mentioned “Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives.” He also assures that he will pledge his unconditional obedience and respect to those who will be succeeding his position. In his last message and appearance as rhe the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict says thank you to the sympathy, friendship and affection of the faithfuls have given him. He mentioned that he is just a pilgrim who is starting the last part of his pilgrimage on this Earth and he ended his message with a final blessings and started his retreat inside the Castel Gandolfo.
Meanwhile more than 150 cardinals visited Pope Benedict XVI as he give his final blessings to the who will undergo conclave or the selection of the new Pontiff. Vatican will be naming the new Pope before Palm Sunday which Pope Benedict XVI’s successor must be ready for the observance of the Holy Week to guide the faithfuls of the Roman Catholic Church on their Lenten reflections. The papal conclave will happen 15-20 days after the vacancy of the Pontiff’s position. There are 115 Cardinals who are eligible to vote will have a special mass at the St. Peter’s Basilica and will walk going to the Sistine Chapel where the election will take place. Election of the new Pope is valid if 3/4s of the ballot favors to the successor. In a chimney when black smore came out it means there’s no Pope selected and will proceed to another election and if white the new Pontiff will decide his Pope name and will immediately be presented to the waiting crowd to give his blessings. Vatican is targeting March 15 to name the new Pope.
Cardinals who are possible to succeed Pope Benedict XVI includes Cardinal Angelo Scola of the archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Italian Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of USA and even Cardinal Luis Tangle of the Philippines.
