(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130502-Mater%20Ecclesiae-655a.photoblog600.jpg)Samantha Zucchi / EPAWorkers perform renovations Feb. 20 at the top of convent of Mater Ecclesiae, where Pope Benedict XVI will live starting Thursday.By Peter Jeary, Senior Foreign Desk Editor, NBC NewsA new page will be written in Vatican history on Thursday, when Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI returns to take up permanent residency in the city-state.
The unprecedented arrangement of reigning pope living a short distance from a retired pope will begin when Benedict arrives at the newly renovated Mater Ecclesiae monastery late Thursday afternoon.
The pope emeritus will make the short helicopter flight from the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, where he has been staying since Feb. 28.(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/1305021-pope-francis-benedict-650a.380;380;7;70;0.jpg)Osservatore Romano / ReutersPope Francis, left, embraces Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as he arrives at the Castel Gandolfo summer residence on March 23. In a further twist, the Vatican has confirmed that Benedict will reside with his secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, whose day job as head of the papal household involves arranging the schedule for Pope Francis.
The two pontiffs met at Castel Gandolfo on March 23 (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/23/17427498-were-brothers-pope-meets-ex-pope-for-historic-lunch?lite) for an informal and largely private face-to-face discussion, which a Vatican spokesman described (http://en.radiovaticana.va/Articolo.asp?c=676219) as “a moment of profound and elevated communion.”
Benedict described himself as “a simple pilgrim” as he stood down from the papacy, but he will continue to wear white robes.
His new accommodation, located inside the Vatican gardens, is a comparatively modern building, having been completed in 1994.
It was founded under Pope John Paul II as accommodation for a monastic group of nuns and a place of prayer.
Refurbishment work on the building started in November 2012; one former resident nun said (http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/nun-describes-simplicity-of-popes-retirement-monastery/) the basement suffered from humidity while the terrace had become damaged by winter weather.
Related:- Popes meet for historic lunch (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/23/17427498-were-brothers-pope-meets-ex-pope-for-historic-lunch?lite)
- Benedict leaves Vatican for final time as pope (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/28/17129365-thank-you-for-your-friendship-benedict-leaves-vatican-for-final-time-as-pope?lite)
- Full Vatican coverage from NBC News (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/vatican)
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