And History is made...!

Pope Benedict XVI at his last public appearance as Pontiff

Pope Benedict's trademark red shoes
 

History is made today, one that none of the over 7 billion inhabitants of the world has ever witnessed.

At this very moment, 20.00 GMT, the doors at his Summer residence Castle Gandolfo have been closed and the Swiss Guards withdrawn as Pope Benedict XVI has officially resigned his post. He will henceforth be known as 'Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI' or 'Roman Pontiff Emeritus Benedict XVI', he would also be addressed as 'Your Holiness' and be referred to as 'His Holiness Benedict XVI'

He has given up his trademark 'red' shoes (pictured above). While he will retain the white cassock, his official seal and ring known as 'fisherman's ring' (see picture below) will also be destroyed to mark the end of his papacy.

                                               The Pope's ring aka Fisherman's Ring