Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said that under the Code of Canon Law, no special formula or ceremony is needed to mark the end of a pontificate, and no special ceremony is planned before the pope leaves office Feb. 28.
Meeting reporters, Father Lombardi confirmed the pope's existing commitments:
-- Pope Benedict has no public appointments, not even a general audience, Feb. 18-22 while on retreat.
-- Feb. 23, after the retreat concludes in the morning, the pope will meet with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
-- The pope will recite the Angelus Feb. 24 as normal.
-- He will have private meetings with "some cardinals from the Roman Curia" Feb. 25.
-- Pope Benedict will hold his final general audience Feb. 27; the gathering has been moved to St. Peter's Square to accommodate the crowds that are expected.
-- On Feb. 28, the last full day of the pontificate, Pope Benedict will hold a special farewell meeting with members of the College of Cardinals.
Father Lombardi said the gathering is an occasion for the pope to thank the cardinals, not any kind of ceremony.
Around 5 p.m., the pope will fly by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo, where he will stay until remodeling is finished at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens.