Benedict XVI's time as Pope ends

"Thank you and goodnight," Pope Benedict XVI told crowds gathered outside his new home in the Italian countryside Wednesday, as he became the first pontiff to retire in almost six centuries.

Benedict's time as head of the Catholic Church came to an end at 2 p.m. ET today. At the Vatican, Benedict said his final goodbyes before a helicopter took him to Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome.

The end of Benedict's time as popeprompts an array of traditions: the corps of Swiss guards assigned to him will step aside, his papal ring will be destroyed and soon a conclave of cardinals from around the world will gather at the Vatican to select a new leader for the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

For his part, Benedict says he will live at Castel Gandolfo as "a pilgrim."

"As you know today is different to previous ones,"Benedict said in Italian to those gathered outside the Castel Gandolfo, according toa translation byReuters. "I willonly be the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church until [2 p.m. ET]. After that I will simply be a pilgrim who is starting thelast phase of his pilgrimage on this earth."

The mood in the Vatican was tranquil. Lights were dimmed around St. Peters square to mark the event as a couple hundred gatherers outside quietly took in the historical event.

Inside, Benedict's closest aide wept by his side ashe bade farewell to officials gathered in the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.Bells tolled as Benedict's helicopterleft for Castel Gandolfo, and once again when he arrived there.

Benedict is expected toreturn to live behind the Vatican walls in two to three months time, in a monastery being readied for him.

Earlier Thursday, the Pope told 144cardinals in Vatican City on Thursday that he will pledge to obey the next pontiff.

Deliveringan unexpected speech inside the Vatican's frescoed Clementine Hall, Benedict urged the "princes" of the church to set aside their differences as they elect the next pope, urging them to be unified so that the College of Cardinals works "like an orchestra" where "agreement and harmony" can be reached despite diversity. It was his last chance to officially say goodbye to the cardinals, more than half of whom he appointed.

The Pope, wearing his crimson velvet cape and using a cane, said he would pray for the cardinals in coming days as they choose his successor, the 266th leader of theCatholic Church and its 1.2 billion followers.

"Among you is also the future pope, whom I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience," Benedict said in his final audience.

But hisscheduled return to Vatican Cityhas deepened concerns about the shadow he will cast over the next papacy. Benedict has tried to address those worries, saying that once retired he would be "hidden from the world."

CBC's Susan Ormistonsaidwith Thursday's comments to the cardinalsthe Pope was "trying to put down any worries that the Vatican might have that he would be pulling strings from behind closed walls."

Pope's resignation a 'turning point' for Catholic Church: Vatican expert

[IMAGEGALLERY galleryid=3830 size=small]

And in his final speech in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, he said he wasn't returning to private life, but rather to a new form of service to the church through prayer.

Marco Politi, an Italian journalist and Vatican expert, said the resignation is a historic turning point for the Catholic Church.

"Here in Rome, the Catholic Church has [had] the legacy of the Roman Empire," he told CBC News. "This way of an old imperial church is fading away."

Politi said the cardinals will have a choice between choosing a pope who will be open to reforms or to "defend thetrenches of the old tradition."

Cardinal Thomas Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, the archbishop emeritus of Montreal, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec will be among the senior clergy on hand to choose their next leader.

In all, 115 cardinals under the age of 80 are expected in Rome for the conclave to vote on who should become the next pope; two other eligible cardinals have already said they are not coming, one from Britain and another from Indonesia. Cardinals who are 80 and older can join the college meetings but won't participate in the conclave or vote.

Earlier this week, Benedict gave the cardinals the go-ahead to move up the start date of the conclave tossing out the traditional 15-day waiting period. But the cardinals won't actually set a date for the conclave until they begin meeting officially Monday.

The pope's resignation leaves the Vatican in uncharted waters; no pontiff has stepped aside voluntarilysince Celistine V in 1294.

"Pope Celistine didn't leave us any notes or a playbook," said Canadian and Vatican spokesman Rev. Thomas Rosica.

It is known Benedict's papalring will be destroyed, smashed by a silver hammer, and a wax seal will be placed on the papal apartments in the Vatican so that no one may enter before the new pope.

In Canada,thanksgiving masseswere plannedfor noon across the country to mark the end of Benedict's reign. For instance, 20 bishops from across western Canada and the North are expected in Edmonton.

[IMAGEGALLERY galleryid=3825 size=large]