Eric J. Lyman, Special for USA TODAY
At 8 p.m. sharp local time (2 p.m. ET), Benedict will become the first pontiff in 600 years to retire.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican for the last time shortly before 5 p.m. local time Thursday, but not before promising “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor in his final greetings to cardinals before retiring.
At 5:07 p.m. local time, Benedict left by Italian government helicopter for Castel Gandolfo, the traditional papal summer residence 15 miles south of Rome. It landed there 17 minutes later. After a short ride, he slowly made his way into the villa at 5:32 p.m.
Minutes later, he greeted a crowd from his residence balcony. “This day brings me great joy….I feel very fortunate,” he said in his last statement as pope. “Let us continue to go forward. Thank you. With my dire heart and blessing, I impart my blessing. Thank you and good evening.”
Earlier, in his final tweet as pope:
“Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the (center) of your lives.”
At 8 p.m. local time, he will be transformed from pope into pontiff emeritus, his views on faith and morals will no longer be seen as infallible, and the pope’s role as the leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics will officially be a “sede vacante” — empty seat.
Attention among Vatican observers is now shifting to the debate over the weary pontiff’s legacy and the process that will select his replacement.
Benedict urged his cardinals Thursday to work in unity so that the College of Cardinals is “like an orchestra” where “agreement and harmony” can be reached — a clear message to the conclave that will pick the next pope. He said he would pray for the cardinals in coming days and weeks as they choose his successor.
In his last general audience Wednesday, Benedict thanked more than 100,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for their support and he asked for their prayers before issuing a warning for his successor about the lack of privacy that would come along with the position.