Pope leaves Vatican, resignation takes effect

 　　VATICAN CITY, Feb.28 (Xinhua) -- The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI came into effect at 8 pm local time (1900 GMT) on Thursday, who had left the Vatican by helicopter for the papal vacation retreat in south Rome earlier in the afternoon.

　　The pope has become the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, after which he is supposed to be addressed as "his holiness" under the title of "Pope Emeritus¹."

　　On his last day in office, he pledged to respect and obey his successor, who is set to be elected by cardinals² in a conclave³ next month.

　　The pope held his final general audience on Wednesday and his last public prayer ceremony last Sunday, both of which drew tens of thousands of Catholic believers and other spectators from across the world.

1 emeritus   

adj.名誉退休的

参考例句：

• "Perhaps I can introduce Mr.Lake Kirby,an emeritus professor from Washington University?"请允许我介绍华盛顿大学名誉教授莱克柯尔比先生。
• He will continue as chairman emeritus.他将会继续担任荣誉主席。

2 cardinals   

红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数

参考例句：

• cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
• A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。

3 conclave   

n.秘密会议，红衣主教团

参考例句：

• Signore,I ask and I prey,that you break this conclave.各位阁下，我请求，并祈祷，你们能停止这次秘密会议。
• I met my partner at that conclave and my life moved into a huge shift.我就是在那次大会上遇到了我的伴侣的，而我的生活就转向了一个巨大的改变。