(Vatican Radio) “Among you, among the College of Cardinals, there is also the future
Pope, to whom, here today, I already promise my unconditional reverence and obedience.” Those
were Pope Benedict’s words on Thursday morning to his closest advisors, gathered in
the Vatican’s Clementine Hall for a final greeting, just hours ahead of his retirement
and the end of his pontificate at 8pm, Rome time.
Vatican Radio's Philippa
Hitchen reports...
For his last
meeting in the Vatican, the outgoing pontiff greeted 144 cardinals individually, together
with the presidents and officials of the different Vatican offices. He also responded
to a greeting from the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, saying that
together they have sought to serve Christ and His Church throughout this past pontificate.
He urged them all to pray so that the College of Cardinals is “like an orchestra”
where diversity, as an expression of the Universal Church, always contributes to a
higher sense of harmony. The Church, Pope Benedict stressed, is a living body,
as was so clearly seen through the crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square for the last
Wednesday general audience. Through the Church, he said, the mystery of the Incarnation
remains forever present. Christ continues to walk through all times and in all places. Before
exchanging a few words with each man individually, the Pope said he would continue
to be close to them all through prayer, especially in the coming days leading up to
the election of a new pope. Noting that the next leader of the Catholic Church would
be among men standing in front of him, Benedict pledged his “unconditional reverence
and obedience.” As Fr Federico Lombardi noted at a press briefing following the
event, Benedict will be in Castel Gandolfo so will not be part of the next papal election:
thus these final words simply underline his attitude of complete service and obedience
to God and to the 265th Successor of St Peter.