(Vatican Radio) The end of Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate, at 20:00, Thursday February
28th, will be marked by the stepping down of the Pontifical Swiss Guard
from the gates to the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo. At that time they will
end their active duty, because their service is specifically linked to the Petrine
ministry. The gates closing on these men, who swear an oath to protect the life of
the Holy Roman Pontiff, will thus be the final act and lasting image of Benedict XVI’s
eight year Pontificate. Emer McCarthy reports:
But he will
continue to be called His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus. He will continue
to wear white, a simple white cassock without a cape, but he will not wear the signatory
red shoes, choosing instead the brown leather shoes gifted him in Leon, Mexico last
year and with which he is very happy.
Moreover his fisherman’s ring and papal
seal will be destroyed as they pertain specifically to the Papal office. All of these
decisions on the future of Benedict XVI once the clock strikes eight pm on Thursday
were taken by the Holy Father himself, in collaboration with the camerlegno and pontifical
household.
They were relayed to press by Fr. Federico Lombardi Tuesday in the
now daily briefing on the final hours of this pontificate.
Fr. Lombardi also
revealed that the Pope is preparing for his final public appearances through prayer
and reflection. And he confirmed that the Holy Father together with his private secretaries
is also sorting between documents of a more personal nature and those relating to
the Petrine ministry, ahead of his move.
But ahead of his departure from the
Apostolic Palace, scheduled for 17:00 hrs Thursday he still has two great appointments
one public and one private.
Fr. Lombardi revealed that upwards of 50 thousand
tickets have been requested for Wednesday’s last general audience, which will follow
the regular pattern of a catechesis and greeting in various languages. But the Press
Office director also confirmed that many more pilgrims are expected to arrive without
a ticket and will be able to gain access to the square.
After the general
audience, the Holy Father will greet leading figures in the Clementine Hall, among
others, the President of Slovakia, the captains regent of San Marino, the president
of Bavaria, the Prince of Andorra.
On Thursday morning, at 11am, there will
be a farewell greeting with all of the cardinals present in Rome. Thursday afternoon,
the Pope will bid farewell to the pontifical household at 16.55, departing by car
from the San Damaso courtyard. There he will take his leave of Secretary of State
officials. From there, the Pope will go to the heliport where he will be greeted by
the Cardinal Dean, Angelo Sodano. Shortly after 17:00 he will leave for Castel Gandolfo,
where he will arrive at 17.15. At 17.30 he will make a brief greeting to greet the
faithful of the Diocese of Albano from the central balcony of the Apostolic Palace.
This will be the last public appearance of Benedict XVI.
At 20:00 the Vacant
See begins. The following day, March 1, Fr. Lombardi confirmed that the Cardinal Sodano
will officially convoke the Cardinals to Rome. He added that as March 1 is Friday
the general congregations not begin on Saturday or Sunday, but "in all probability”
will begin on Monday, March 4. The meetings which will determine the start of Conclave
among other things, will be held in the New Synod Hall.
Finally Fr. Lombardi
confirmed that there will be daily press briefings with general information of from
the Congregations for journalists following the event.