What now? How Pope spent first hours as a retiree

Published December 12, 2015

Feb. 28, 2013 - Former Pope Benedict XVI is saluted by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, as he leaves the Vatican to board a helicopter to the pontiff's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. (AP)

The Vatican says Benedict XVI has spent his first few hours as a retiree praying, watching TV and taking walks.

The Vatican on Friday released details of Benedict's life inside Castel Gandolfo, the vacation retreat where at 8 p.m. Thursday he became the first pope in 600 years to retire.

Benedict's secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, reported to the Vatican that after Benedict said his final public farewell, he ate dinner, took his typical constitutional walk in the palace and watched TV news of his last day as pope. Gaenswein reported he slept well, celebrated Mass as usual and had breakfast, according to the Vatican spokesman.

Gaenswein reported Benedict was relaxed — as evidenced by the fact that he had in recent days resumed playing piano.

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