Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday vowed “unconditional obedience” to his successor on his historic final day as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Cath-olics, when he will become the first pontiff to resign since the Middle Ages.
“Among you there is also the future Pope to whom I promise my unconditional obedience and reverence,” he said as he bade farewell to cardinals in the Vatican’s ornate Clementine Hall.
“Let the Lord reveal the one he has chosen,” said the 85-year-old Pope, wearing an ermine-lined red stole over his white cassock. “We have experienced, with faith, beautiful moments of radiant light together, as well as times with a few clouds in the sky,” Benedict said.
The cardinals with their black cassocks and red sashes then took turns bidding farewell to the pontiff, kissing his gold papal signet ring. Many doffed berettas in a sign of deference.
Just hours remained before Benedict will make history as only the second Pope to resign of his own free will in the Church’s 2,000-year history.
The Vatican has said when the Pope’s powers expire at 1900 GMT, he will formally be known as “Roman Pontiff Emeritus”, although he will still be addressed as “Your Holiness Benedict XVI”.