The first hours

A press conference was held in the Vatican today, during which the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Jesuit Father Frederico Lombardi shared with the journalists gathered there some video coverage of yesterday's events including the meeting of His Holiness with the Cardinals and the departure of the Roman Pontiff from the Vatican.

After the Pope left the Vatican, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Camerlengo or Papal Chamberlain sealed off the papal apartments.  Also present for the sealing of the doors were Cardinal Pier Luigi Celata, Vice Camerlengo and several prelates who work in the Papal Household.  Father Lombardi explained that Cardinal Celata also sealed the papal apartments in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome.

Father Lombardi explained to the journalists that he had spoken with Archbishop Georg Ganswein, the Pope Emeritus' secretary and Prefect of the Papal Household, and was told that His Holiness was very calm and serene.  After his arrival at Castel Gandolfo, he watched several news programs and expressed his appreciation for the work of the journalists as well as for the participation of those who had assisted in his departure from the Vatican.  Shortly after a brief walk through the Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo, he went to bed and apparently slept very well.

This morning, His Holiness celebrated Mass at 7:00am followed by praying the Liturgy of the Hours.    At 4:00pm, he walked in the gardens of the Apostolic Palace and prayed the rosary.

 

Father Lombardi told the journalists that among the books on theology and church history that the Pope Emeritus has brought with him, he is currently reading famed theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar's Theological Asthetics.