Today is the last day of Pope Benedict’s papacy as he becomes the first Pontiff in centuries to resign.
In a final public appearance in St Peter’s Square he said there had been many moments of joy and light – along with others that hadn’t been easy.
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He’ll leave the Vatican by helicopter this afternoon before blessing a crowd at the Papal retreat Castel Gandolfo tonight.
Today’s papal departure will have a particular significance for a number of north Clare villages today.
Benedict the 16th is nominally the Bishop of the old diocese of Kilfenora as well as the parish priest of Liscannor following a Papal Dictate issued from the Vatican in 1883.
However all the administration work for the area is handled by the Diocese of Galway.
