Benedict Formally Ends His Papacy, Leaving Vatican

At 8 p.m. local time on Thursday, the papacy of Benedict XVI officially ended, leaving the Vatican by helicopter for a summer residence, reports Rachel Donadio at The New York Times. Earlier in the day, Benedict XVI told the cardinals who will elect his successor that he will show “unconditional reverence and obedience” toward their choice. After a scandalous eight year papacy, Benedict urged the cardinals “to be ‘like an orchestra’ that harmonizes for the good of the church.”

Read at The New York Times

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