(Vatican Radio) Thursday afternoon, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will return to take
up permanent residence in Vatican City State. He had been residing in the Apostolic
Palace of Castel Gandolfo since his resignation from the papacy on February 28th
last.
Benedict XVI will reside at the "Mater Ecclesiae" Monastery which has
been undergoing renovation since November 2012, and until then was inhabited by Visitation
nuns.
Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican Press Office director, confirmed to
press that the Pope Emeritus will leave Castel Gandolfo by helicopter at approximately
16:30 local time. Benedict XVI will reside with his secretary, the prefect of the
Pontifical Household, Msgr. Georg Gaenswein, and the four memores domine who have
been part of his household in these years.
On 28 February, as he prepared
to step down, Benedict XVI greeted the many faithful who had welcomed him to Castel
Gandolfo calling himself "a simple pilgrim", now in the last stage of his earthly
journey, but always close to the Church in spirit and prayer.
Prayers he also
promised the new Pope - Pope Francis – whom he historically met on March 23 at Castel
Gandolfo.