Lake Albano is pictured from a window of the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Feb. 22. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
I doubt we’ll get these kinds of details very often in the
coming weeks, months, and years – so here is an interesting glimpse into how
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI plans to spend his days of retirement. One thing it
doesn’t appear to include: sleeping in. From
Vatican Information Service:
Today, as always, His Holiness celebrated Mass at 7:00am and
then prayed the Liturgy of the Hours. In the afternoon he has another walk
planned at 4:00pm, through the gardens of the Castel Gandolfo Apostolic Palace,
to pray the rosary. Benedict XVI brought with him various books on theology,
history, and spirituality. At the moment he is reading from a book by the Swiss
theologian Hans Urs von Balthazar.
The news bulletin also notes that yesterday, after arriving at Castel
Gandolfo and briefly touring his new residence, Benedict “went to bed and slept
very well.”