Retired Pope Benedict set to return to Vatican May 2

cns ^ | April 30, 2013 | Cindy Wooden

[NYer]

Pope Benedict at his final general audience Feb. 27. (CNS/Paul Haring)

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Retired Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to move into a remodeled convent at the Vatican May 2, the Vatican spokesman said.

The spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said Pope Benedict would arrive at the Vatican in the early evening by helicopter, "weather permitting."

Pope Benedict has been living at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, since Feb. 28, the date his resignation took effect. Pope Francis traveled to the villa March 23 to talk, pray and eat lunch with the retired pope.

Father Lombardi said a group of Vatican officials would welcome Pope Benedict at the Vatican helipad, but he would not specify further.

Pope Benedict will live in the remodeled Mater Ecclesiae Monastery with Archbishop Georg Ganswein, his secretary, who also serves Pope Francis as prefect of the papal household; and with four laywomen who are consecrated members of the Memores Domini group, Father Lombardi said.

Serving as a residence for a retired pope is only the latest use of the building. A small portion of the current building had been a gardener's house. In 1960, it became the headquarters of a Vatican archaeological research institute, then was used for a time by Vatican Radio.

Pope John Paul II had the building expanded to about 4,300 square feet and in 1994 established it as a monastery for contemplative nuns. For 19 years, different contemplative orders took turns living in the monastery with a mission focused on praying for the pope and the church.

[NYer]

Welcome home!

[don-o]

Place yer bets.

How many minutes before first Catholic bash? I got 5 minutes from my post time. I’ll prolly lose

[PeevedPatriot]

That cartoon cracked me up. Thanks for making me laugh. I still miss Benedict.

[NYer]

Glad I was able to put a smile on your face today. As darkness descends in the world around us, we need to smile and remind ourselves that God is in charge. May the prayers of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI rise like incense before the throne of our Lord and may His peace descend upon all of us.

[illinidiva]

Benedict and Francis would make a good Odd Couple type sitcom given their strikingly different personalities. ;)

Considering B16’s retirement house is really close to Casa Santa Marta, I think that Benedict is going to get in less contemplative prayer and study than he wanted and more time playing host to his chatty successor.

[jimsin]

Looks like Ben is gonna be roamin around one of those residences with not a lot to do and a whole lot of time to do it....here’s my suggy:

I’d be a good idea if he requisitioned a word processor...and whipped up an encyclical for FRANCIS to sign and send out to the world...
one which ...
1. . Extols the beauty and and fairness of America with her constitutional governance, free enterprise system and private proper rights and protections.... a system which has led to a life of wealth and safety for untold millions of people all over the earth!

2. Condemns the global warmers pointing out the mass starvation their wacky policies will visit on the poor.

3. Encourages the universal adoption of capital punishment because it’s just plain just and will save the lives of many as would be killers will be intimidated.

add any other Conservative ideas you can lay your hands on......

Whew...talk about makin’ yourself useful...that’d surely do it!

[Salvation]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3014607/posts?page=6#6

Only six posts, don-o

[don-o]

I was way off. The usual suspects must be off their feed.

[ELS]

You think #6 is a Catholic bash? I didn’t read it that way.