Changing of the guard

Castel Gandolfo's main entrance

Precisely at the stroke of 8:00pm tonight, the Swiss Guards, who are charged with the duty of protecting the Holy Father, retired from Castel Gandolfo in a simple but moving ceremony.  The doors of the palace were closed and the Swiss Guards hung up their halberds (spears) and the Vatican Gendarmerie took up patrol.

In this simple ceremony, the symbolic handover was made so that the security of the guest now staying at Castel Gandolfo, who has referred to himself as a simple pilgrim, might be assured.

The closing of the doors marked the end of the working day, and also the end of the Pontificate of His Holiness, Benedict XVI, now known as Pope Emeritus.

His Holiness will remain as a guest at Castel Gandolfo until the upcoming Conclave is complete, and the newly chosen Pope has been installed.  He will then move into the Mater Ecclesiae monastery located in the gardens of Vatican City, where he will live along with His Excellency, Georg Ganswein and the German Sisters who have lived with him for the past eight years in the Papal apartments.

Mater ecclesiae monastery

The period of sede vacante began at 8:00pm local time in Rome (2:00pm EST) today, and will continue until the new Pontiff is elected.

It is expected that His Eminence, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals will issue the official invitation to the Cardinals to assemble in Rome for the Conclave, and the meetings to review the necessary proceedures will begin sometime next week.