Pope Benedict is the first Pope to resign

• Pope Benedict is the first Pope to resign in nearly 600 years. • This is an important historical event. • He resigned due to ill health. • His name has been changed to Emeritus which is Latin for ‘retired’. • He will no longer wear his famous read shoes!

• The papal gold ring, known as the fisherman's ring, will be smashed with a specially designed silver hammer when the Pope leaves office. • This is a tradition which usually takes place when a Pope dies.

Where will he live? • The Pope will live in the Vatican City. • His new home is a three storey house. • It has orchards, vegetable patches, flower beds and its own chapel. • It used to be a convent which is now unused but when he was Pope he passed it several times and personally chose this property. • He will not live alone but it is unclear as to who will live with him at the moment.

What will he do? • The Pope Likes to read and has 20, 000 books in his library. • He enjoys playing the piano and watching old black and white movies. • He has pet cats who will move with him to his new home. • He will advise the new Pope. • He will write. • He will pray.

Twitter! • The Pope had 2. 5 million followers on twitter. His account was shut down when he went into retirement. Perhaps the next Pope will carry on this new way of keeping in touch with the faithful!

What happens now? • All eyes will soon focus on the Vatican City in Rome. • Cardinals from all around the world will begin to gather to choose a new Pope. • One of the cardinals who meet in Rome will become the new Pope. • This is called ‘Conclave’. Which is Latin for ‘under lock and key’.

Conclave • The Cardinals are locked in the Sistine Chapel and they have no contact with the outside world until a new Pope is chosen. • The Cardinals pray together and vote. • The ballot papers are burnt. If black smoke appears from the chimney then no Pope has been chosen. If white smoke appears a new Pope has been elected.

Holy Father, we come to you as your children asking for special blessings over your Pope Benedict. He has been our spiritual leader and brought us closer to You in holiness and grace. We pray that his final years on this earth be without pain and suffering. Look with favor on his life which he is dedicating to prayer. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

We are stars!