Ex-pope to return to Vatican ‘probably’ Thursday

Ex-pope Benedict XVI. AP FILE PHOTO

VATICAN CITY—Pope emeritus Benedict XVI will “probably” return to the Vatican on Thursday, a spokesman for the Holy See said, two months after the German pontiff’s resignation stunned the world.

For the first time in history, a retired pope and a serving pope will both be resident in Vatican City, the world’s smallest state.

Benedict will move into the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, a two-story brick building on a hilltop inside Vatican walls overlooking St. Peter’s that has been renovated especially for the former pope.

Spokesman Federico Lombardi declined to be drawn on the practicalities of the move or whether he would be greeted by Pope Francis, saying only: “There is no fixed program at this stage.”

Since Benedict dramatically stepped down as pontiff on February 28, he has been living in the Castel Gandolfo, a luxurious 55-hectare (136-acre) property, which is larger than the Vatican City itself, located 25 kilometers (16 miles) southeast of Rome.

As he had promised, Joseph Ratzinger has led an extremely discreet life since he stepped down and has not made any comment on Vatican affairs.