Thursday, February 28 2013

ALTHOUGH Pope Benedict XVI’s new title will from today either be “emeritus pope” or “emeritus Roman pontiff”, there is no need for confusion when a new Pope is chosen according to the Vatican’s representative in TT, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Nicola Girasoli.

Pope Benedict delivered his final address yesterday as Pope in St Peter’s Square before thousands of persons in the Vatican city. Pope Benedict who announced his resignation earlier this month said he will cease to be pope at 8 pm Italian time today and will take his new title instead of returning to his name, Joseph Ratzinger. He will continue to wear white cassocks (clerical clothing) but with brown shoes instead of red and will continue living within Vatican walls. His secretary, Georg Gänswein, will live with him in the Vatican and will remain prefect of the papal household.

Once the seat of the Pope remains vacant, Cardinals, begin consultations ahead of a conclave to choose a successor. Some have expressed confusion on the decision to give Pope Benedict the title of “emeritus pope” but Girasoli said he will not be seen publicly. He became the first pope to retire in 600 years.

“The emeritus is very weak and he has cited many health problems behind his decision to resign as pope, so I do not think we will see him publicly. It is something new but the Vatican is very well prepared so I don’t think there should be confusion,” Girasoli said.

Explaining the process, he said Benedict’s lead seal and his ring of office, known as the “ring of

the fisherman,” will be destroyed according to Church rules and the apartment in the Vatican will be sealed just as if he had died.

He said Benedict will live within the Vatican walls and then move to an old monastery —which formerly housed cloistered nuns — once renovation work was completed.