Pope offers Roman priests his recollections of Vatican II

February 14, 2013

Pope Benedict XVI offered an extemporaneous recollection of his experiences at Vatican II, as he met on February 14 with the pastors of the Rome diocese.

Greeted in the Paul VI auditorium by a long and loud round of applause, the Pope thanked the clerics for their support and especially for their prayers. He promised that he would continue to prayer for them after his retirement. "Even if I step down now I am always close in prayer and you will all be close even if I remain hidden to the world," the Pope said.

Confirming his plans to remove himself from the public scene, Pope Benedict said that he would be “hidden to the world” after his retirement.

Introducing his reflections on Vatican II, the Pope referred to the effects of aging that had prompted him to resign. “For today, given the conditions of my age, I could not prepare a great, real address, as one might expect,” he said. “But rather I thought of chatting about the Second Vatican Council as I saw it.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope to Rome’s priests: The Second Vatican Council, as I saw it (Vatican Radio)
• Pope to Roman Clergy: I will Always Be with You in Prayer (VIS)
• Outgoing pope to remain 'hidden from the world (ANSA)