Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Castel Gandolfo

This transcript is automatically generated

The church.

Do you happen to know where this helicopter pad as does this look familiar at all -- eliminated and humanitarian side there's the grounds of a sudden an -- its interest in -- there's an ancient Roman road that runs.

Passed to some monopoly and drove in -- -- -- copy which is down VIP and mobile which is a new movie out -- That's a road that that the apostles including Xavier were taken in during the ancient Roman days come into.

Into -- so there's there's.

Hopes have been traveling in this path that that you just -- that I take forever for very long time.

Just seeing the landing here castle Gandolfo again five funding for local time.

In Italy 1124 here and -- East Coast and this is just for right now.

A temporary.

Retirement site for the Pope he's going to be returning to the Vatican believe it happened around April when the renovations for.

-- small monastery.

That he -- -- -- Will be done and then he'll be able to go back to the Vatican but for right now John and this will be -- home for the next.

Several months.

The passengers on board we know that his personal secretary.

George get swine.

Is guns one excuse me.

-- guns wind is on board with him not absolutely certain of the other people who have been chosen to make this.

Flight with the Pope.

-- -- one is on board we understand that the secretary will remain with him at Castel Gandolfo.

As the Pope begins his.

While his retirement there.

In announcing his intention to retire.

-- -- Simply says that the burdens of the office need to be borne by a younger and more vigorous man.

And you can see in the way he lights from the helicopter and even in his stance.

This -- well into his -- this is somewhat frail.

The primary reason he says -- is.

Retirement.

And for the meeting of the college of cardinals -- will he left his successor.

Sometime we expect in the next couple of weeks.

When everything that you might notice is that the Pope is still wearing what he wanted to traditionally wears of the Pope does indicate that goes down without Boston the rain is still on his finger that rain.

That will be taken from him.

And a little later today we'll talk to father -- in a moment about that he's off to still wearing the red shoes that we understand he will no longer Wear the red -- Signify a high blood of martyrs in the church that's why.

And issues are -- part of their significance other Jonathan hopefully can still hear me tell us a little bit about.

When some of those -- -- this is the big change obviously we're gonna see his last address to the world is hope we're gonna see it all live together.

When -- the next stage half and the changing of the -- -- the changing of the dress went went is that I'll take place.

You can bet that he'll be very happy to get out of those shoes as anyone of us would be.

And you know he's not he's not attached to the trappings.

And I just know I know him -- not to say that got some priests and bishops their hopes.

Might might be attached to those things are gonna happen of course -- bad -- different.

But opening the sixteenth that's not that's not his style.

By his style is very much low key but he recognizes that symbols matter that they do mean something and for example the ring that you brought up Jenna.

That ring is called the -- -- they got the fisherman's -- Right remembered god Jesus who called -- at saint Peter in the disciples no longer to be fishermen but to be good to be Fisher of men.

And dad that ring that symbolizes his his authority of his responsibility as Pope.

That will be taken from him it will be smashed.

In other words it is no longer symbolizing authority because he does not have that authority anymore.

And the authority will be given over to the college of cardinals.

During this time between -- disease so it.

You can bet that Pope Benedict the sixteenth at 8 o'clock PM.

We'll probably go and have a very simple dinner as he usually does at that time and then he will begin a new phase of his life.

-- things will be very quiet the secretary.

Wolf how -- to be about relieved he's had a a long eight years as well by his side.

And they will be get a new phase of that study of prayer.

And also of communication of writing in communicating with -- the cardinals' other people.

But in a very very private way.

A beautiful day in -- for this type of events we keep on mentioning.

That there's more than a billion Catholics worldwide there's more than 75 million Catholics in the United States and obviously the Pope as a leader and the Catholic Church but actually is back with -- on set as well a senior fellow with the Catholic association and actually your thoughts about.

Not only what this means for the Catholic Church but this is a religious leader.

That is recognized as such by many who are not Catholic and I'm curious your thoughts about.

What this transition means an.

What someone can take away from this moment if they're not Catholic.

Yes sure absolutely I mean a big part.

Of the role that the Pope plays is very ecumenical reaching out to.

Different religions and I was just reading on commentary magazine that they were praising the efforts -- the Pope -- done to reach out to the Jewish community.

So I think that he plays a very important on that respect and you know one of the things that Pope Benedict has.

Done a wonderful job where it is promoting religious freedom not just for Catholics but for people of all faiths all around the world I mean we live in a time when.

Religious persecution is it is a huge problem for not just Catholics but.

For -- for people of faith everywhere and he's done a real excellent job of spotlighting that issue and I think that.

It's important that that a big part of the role of the Pope is to promote to use his position of authority.

And respect with so many people around the world.

To promote different causes about -- human rights human dignity and that's something that he's really done an excellent job of doing so even your thoughts.

Well if I agree anything -- underlying all of that is that this isn't the Catholic Church in the bulk of the month sentence for.

Policy initiative.

Rules and regulations.

The underlying all that is really what -- before.

They didn't pay close attention.

And that all what he does know what hope does flows from that.

One of the things that this program is done particularly well I think this will be another part of his legacy seems consistent is anymore.

Diagnosed.

Part of -- the Paltrow.

And spiritual -- that this sets the west and I think that's a big big part of his teacher and got something to be remembered for.

This is one stage as we continue to watch the -- now.

Unfortunately we have a bigger view of exactly which building venturing here but it appears to be -- and -- looks even like -- -- well.

Hi into a castle Gandolfo mentioned before that this is that this -- it -- it goes back to the top hundred in the built by.

I've Stanley from -- a -- in Italy.

And it was billed initially to.

Protect against marauders on the countryside since -- very interesting.

History.

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Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Castel Gandolfo

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