Benedict XVI’s first night as pope emeritus

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News)—Benedict XVI ate dinner, watched the news with Archbishop Georg Gänswein and slept soundly during his first night as a retired pontiff.

“We spoke with Archbishop Georg Gänswein this morning and he told us that both of them slept very well, had dinner and watched two Italian newscasts of the days events,” Vatican press office director Father Federico Lombardi said March 1.

“The pope was immersed in the profound and beautiful expression of the people at Castel Gandolfo,” Father Lombardi told journalists at a daily briefing.

The pope emeritus prayed evening prayer after dinner, read messages that people sent to him and took a walk through the halls of Castel Gandolfo. Father Lombardi noted “Benedict brought CDs of his favorite music and many books of theology, spirituality and history. And he will probably soon resume playing the piano.”

“He was very peaceful and he woke up very peacefully after having slept well,” said Father Lombardi. “He has shown a great interior serenity that was reflected in his face.”

He woke up this morning in time to celebrate Mass at 7 a.m., as he normally does, and at 4
p.m. he walked through Castel Gandolfo’s gardens praying the rosary.

Benedict XVI will live at Castel Gandolfo until restoration work is finished at Mater Ecclesiae monastery, where he will be permanently living a life of prayer inside the Vatican walls.