Today marks one year in Pope Benedict being flying away to the Summer Residence to retire from the petrine ministry. Hard to believe that he’s been gone for a year. Until last week, we have seen very little of him in public.
The final paragraph of the final Angelus address Pope Benedict said,
Dear brothers and sisters, I feel that this Word of God is particularly directed at me, at this point in my life. The Lord is calling me to “climb the mountain,” to devote myself even more to prayer and meditation. But this does not mean abandoning the Church. Indeed, if God is asking me to do this, it is so that I can continue to serve the Church with the same dedication and the same love with which I have done thus far, but in a way that is better suited to my age and my strength. Let us invoke the intercession of the Virgin Mary: may she always help us all to follow the Lord Jesus in prayer and works of charity.
And on the day he left The Vatican,
Dear friends, I’m happy to be with you, that I can see the Creator’s beauty around us, and all the goodness you’ve given to me – thank you for your friendship and your affection!
You know that this day of mine hasn’t been like those before. I’m no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church – at least, at 8 o’clock I won’t be – now I’m just a pilgrim beginning the last part of his journey on earth.
With all my heart, with all my love, with my prayer and all my strength – with everything in me – I’d like to work for the common good of the church and all humanity. I feel your kindness so much.
Let us always move together toward the Lord for the good of the church and of the world. Thank you for bringing yourselves – with all my heart, I give you my blessing….
Thank you and goodnight!