THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Well, the big moment is here.  The epic monumental event that changes everything that everybody has been waiting decades for the arrival of has arrived.  Yup, the Gentle Reader guessed it.  Pope Benedict XVI resigns from office today.  The fisherman rings that Pope Benedict XVI uses to sign documents will be destroyed (Since those rings can only be used once by only one Roman Catholic Pope maximum).  And while spending the rest of his life in a monistary, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will wear a simplified version of his Roman Catholic Pope uniform.  And for a revered religious (And political) position that dates back to the very first Roman Catholic Pope, Saint Peter the Apostal, the mere fact that Pope Benedict XVI is leaving office today as part of his resignation is nothing short of shocking.  He claims to be old, frail and lacking energy.  And a Cardinal within the Roman Catholic Church will be elected the new Pope of the Roman Catholic church.  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI already stated that he'll obey the new incoming Pope of the Roman Catholic Church when he's elected into office by the College of Cardinals (All the Cardinals currently employed by the Roman Catholic Church is called the College of Cardinals).  And what does Emeritus mean.  Well, Emeretis is a fancy way of saying retired.  So starting tomorrow, it's Pope Retired Benedict XVI or Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.  It must be nice for Pope Emeritus XVI to have the capacity to walk away from a lifetime political position so easily and with so few consequences (Beyond having to still wear a Roman Catholic Pope uniform and living for the rest of his life locked up in a monistary with few opportunities for outside activities).

 A helicopter takes Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI away from Vatican City towards his Summer Vacation mansion for some rest and relaxation before his life in a monastery within Vatican City.  When you really think of it, the monastery where Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be spending the rest of his life inside is only down the street and around the corner from here he conducted his last order of business before his resignation took effect.  He only needed the Popemobile---Not a helicopter to make the trip.  Needing the helicopter rather than the Popemobile just to travel down the street and around the corner is overflowing with metaphors.  Since Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI can't ascend to heaven after his resignation takes effect today because he's sill alive, he'll need assistance from the Italian Government Air Force to climb towards heaven instead.

Starting tomorrow, the Roman Catholic Church isn't going to have a Pope running the day to day affairs for Vatican City in particular and the entire Catholic faith in general until the next College of Cardinals election for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's replacement.