Waiting for the Pope

Pope Benedict XVI's Last Day

People start to show up in the square in Castel Gandolfo to await the Pope's arrival.

—Tony Hicks, AP Regional Photo Editor Europe & Africa

Above: Faithful gather in front of Pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where Pope Benedict XVI will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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Waiting for the ... People start to show up in the square in Castel Gandolfo to await the Pope's arrival.

—Tony Hicks, AP Regional Photo Editor Europe & Africa

Above: Faithful gather in front of Pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where Pope Benedict XVI will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Swiss Guards to ... The pope's retirement means his famous Swiss Guards get a few days off before they have to protect the new guy.

Stern-face and standing as erect as the halberds they grasp, Swiss Guards rarely betray emotion on duty. But their storied history has its early roots in a bloody drama.

Nearly five centuries ago, 147 Swiss Guard died while protecting Pope Clement VII in his frantic dash to safety when Emperor Charles V's soldiers sacked Rome.

A few decades earlier, the Renaissance pope, Julius II, had asked Switzerland to supply the Vatican with soldiers because he was so impressed by the courage of Swiss mercenaries.

The Swiss Guards will go off-duty Thursday evening at 8 p.m. — the exact moment when the man they serve, Pope Benedict XVI, resigns.

—Frances D'Emilio, AP

(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Not Since the 15... The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 to end the Great Western Schism, a nearly 40-year split over leadership of Christendom. The disagreement was a major political struggle since the Church played a central role in politics, art and daily life in much of Europe, which was slowly transitioning into the Renaissance.

During that era:

Heretics were burned at the stake, including Bohemian-born Jan Hus, a priest considered an inspiration for the Protestant Reformation, in 1415. Joan of Arc, who fought for France in the Hundred Years War against England, died at the stake in 1431.

The Medicis were building the banking empire that would turn them into a political dynasty, make them influential art benefactors and eventually produce four popes, the first in 1513.

Early Renaissance artists like Donatello were playing with perspective in sculptures of saints that adorned his country's ornate churches.

—Matt Surman via Twitter

Above: An undated portrait of Joan of Arc.(AP Photo, File)
Last Papal Tweet Update for the Twitter world:

The Vatican says retiring Pope Benedict XVI will send his last tweet as pope around 5 p.m. Rome time (1600 GMT, 11 a.m. EST). That's also about the time he's set to leave the Vatican by helicopter to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi says the pope's Twitter handle (at)Pontifex will then be "in abeyance" until the next pontiff is selected. He says it'll be up to the next leader of the Catholic Church as to whether or not he will use it.

—Joji Sakurai via Twitter

Above: @Pontifex tweets on Feb. 27, 2013.
Cardinal George ... Australia's Cardinal George Pell, one of those who will be voting for the next pope, is speaking in Rome about Pope Benedict XVI's retirement:

"He was well aware that this was a break with tradition, slightly destabilizing. But he felt that because of his weakness and sickness, which was only too evident today, that he just didn't have the strength to lead in church in these demanding times."

—Victor Simpson, AP's Rome bureau chief, who has covered the Vatican for decades

(AP Photo/Jeremy Piper)
Pope Eyes Garden... Everyone looks forward to retirement for one reason or another. In Pope Benedict XVI's case, it might be having more time for walks.

Benedict took daily strolls through Vatican City's gardens. Now, awaiting his first months in retirement at Castel Gandolfo is a splendid expanse of manicured lawn, dotted by geometrically-shaped bushes for his afternoon walks.

The Holy See got a good deal on the castle and its grounds. It was acquired in the late 1500s in return for an unpaid debt owed by Italian nobles. But the estate didn't always appear so beautiful. For years, it was almost abandoned after the fall of the Papal State in 1870, as modern Italy took shape.

—Frances D'Emilio, AP

Above: A view of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, right, next to the Tower of San Giovanni, inside the Vatican State where Pope Benedict XVI is expected to live after he resigns. (AP Photo)
Papal Contenders One-hundred and fifteen cardinals will be voting in the next few weeks to choose Pope Benedict's XVI successor. Should they return the papacy to an Italian, stick with a pontiff from elsewhere in Europe, or follow the trends in the church and look to Africa or across the Atlantic? Here's a look at some possible contenders:

(AP Photo)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan.

In this photo released by the Vatican paper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI greets Cardinal Angelo Scola during a private audience at the Vatican, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013.

(AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, ho)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, archbishop of Vienna.

Above: Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn holds a book about the pope's visit to Austria as he addresses the media in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.

(AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, head of Vatican's culture office.

Above: Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi holds the host as he leads a mass at the church of St. Giorgio al Velabro, in Rome, Thursday Feb. 14, 2013.

(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana, head of the Vatican's justice and peace office. Above: Ghanian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson talks to the Associated Press during an interview, in Rome, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013.

(AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of Sao Paulo.

Above: Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, Sao Paulo's archbishop, speaks as he gives a Mass at the Cathedral in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013.

(AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina.

Above: The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio leads a mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013.

(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Leonardo Sandri of Argentina.

Above: Cardinal Leonardo Sandri of Argentina, right, attends a ceremony to take possession of his titular church, San Carlo ai Catinari, in Rome, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007.

(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada, head of the Vatican's office for bishops.

Above: Pope Benedict XVI greets Cardinal Marc Ouellet, of Canada.

(AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.

Above: In this Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 file photo, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan speaks to the press in his residence.

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Papal Contenders... Cardinal Antonio Tagle, the archbishop of Manila.

Above: This Nov. 24, 2012 file photo shows then newly-elected Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, posing for photographers prior to meeting relatives and friends after he was elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, at the Vatican during a consistory.

(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, files)
The Pontiff's Ca... Pope Benedict XVI, his dress soon to be limited to a simple white robe, has worn a ceremonial red cape for his final meeting with the College of Cardinals.

The short cape with ermine trim, known as a mozzetta, is worn for special occasions. And special this occasion was, coming just hours before Benedict becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign.

He looked out at the cardinals and said: "Among you is the future pope." And he promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience."

Victor L. Simpson, AP's Rome bureau chief.

Above: In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message on the occasion of his farewell meeting to cardinals, at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013.

(AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)
'Like an Orchest... The pope is leaving with a veiled warning to the men who will choose his successor: Work together.

In his final audience with the cardinals — the so-called "princes" of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI urged them to set aside their differences as they elect the next pope. He says the College of Cardinals should be unified so it works "like an orchestra" where "agreement and harmony" can be reached despite diversity.

The Vatican in recent years has been famed more for its disharmony, with the pope's own butler leaking papal papers that showed feuds and intrigue at the top of the Vatican bureaucracy.

Benedict says he'll pray for the cardinals in coming days as they vote on his successor.

—Nicole Winfield via Twitter

(AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)
'Unconditional R... What will Benedict's role be after he steps down? One of servitude, he says:

"Among you is also the future pope, whom I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience." - Pope Benedict XVI, in his final audience to his cardinals.

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, top center, delivers his message on the occasion of his farewell meeting to cardinals, at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013.

—Nicole Winfield via Twitter

(AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)
Clementine Hall The Clementine Hall where the pope greeted cardinals for the last time, pledging `'unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor, is a grand 16th century room built by Pope Clement VIII in honor of Pope Clement I — the fourth pope. Covered in ornate marble tiles and Renaissance frescoes, it's basically the pope's reception room — the place where he receives VIPs from around the world. It's also the place where the body of the pope lies in state for private respects by Vatican officials.

—Joji Sakurai via Twitter

Above: Pope Benedict XVI, center, delivers his message on the occasion of the exchange of Christmas greetings with the Roman curia, in the Clementine hall at Vatican, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, pool)
Castel Gandolfo An enthusiastic welcome from the faithful awaits Benedict in Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where he will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope. Fitting for a man looking for a quieter lifestyle, the numbers won't compare to his hectic send-off from St. Peter's Square on the eve of his retirement.

Some 150,000 people flooded the piazza for his final speech as pontiff, with many others watching on giant TV screens set up along the main boulevard outside. The square in Castel Gandolfo is many times smaller — though several thousand are expected to crowd in.

—Nicole Winfield via Twitter

Above: Faithful gather in front of Pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where Pope Benedict XVI will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Papal Odds In betting-mad Britain, bookmakers have been busy taking bets on who will replace Benedict XVI since he announced his retirement earlier this month.

The favorite is Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson(above), who would be the first African pope. He's the front-runner at bookies William Hill, at 5-2, and Ladbrokes, at 11-4. Other leading contenders include Italian cardinals Angelo Scola and Tarcisio Bertone and Cardinal Marc Oullet of Canada.

And for those wanting to gamble on a longshot, Ladbrokes has 500/1 odds on former British Prime Minister Tony Blair — a Catholic convert from Anglicanism — and Irish bookmaker Paddy Power is offering 1,000/1 on U2 lead singer Bono.

—Jill Lawless via Twitter

(AP Photo)
Leaving in Style A helicopter with Pope Benedict XVI onboard leaves the Vatican in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. The 85-year-old German Pope Benedict is stepping down on Thursday evening, the first pope to do so in 600 years, after saying he no longer has the mental or physical strength to vigorously lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)