- Confusion over what Benedict's role will be following shock resignation
- His new name will likely be 'Bishop of Rome, emeritus'
- Pope Benedict will retire to a nunnery just yards from St Peter's
- Building is attached to monastery on northern edge of Vatican gardens
- It has been under renovation since last nuns left cloisters in October
- Pontiff's shock resignation means restoration deadline even more critical
By Steve Doughty and Hannah Roberts
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Benedict XVI?s shock resignation was last night threatening to throw the Roman Catholic Church into turmoil at the suggestion there could be ?two Popes? living side by side in Rome.
The unprecedented scenario became apparent as the Vatican was gripped by confusion over what name and title Benedict will have when he retires.
There was also deep concern over what role he may play after he has stepped down and his successor assumes authority over the Roman Catholic flock.
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Shock decision: Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation during a meeting of Vatican cardinals, a move that has thrown the Catholic church into turmoil as it seeks to find a successor
While Vatican spokesmen gave assurances that the retired Pope will never interfere with the appointment or decisions of the new one, Benedict?s brother Georg Ratzinger said that ?where he?s needed he will make himself available? and added that the next Pontiff ?may ask for advice?.
It was also revealed that, far from retiring to a life of contemplation in a distant monastery, Benedict will live inside the Vatican in a specially-prepared apartment block.
His presence close to St Peter?s Square poses the threat that the authority of the new Pope may be compromised or undermined.
And it led many to fear that the church?s 1.2billion followers could be exposed to the risk of divided loyalties to ?two Popes?.
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Last night the Vatican went out of its way to emphasise that for Pope Benedict, retirement meant just that: retirement.
To add to the sense of finality its spokesman said Benedict?s papal ring and other powerful emblems of authority would be destroyed when he retires ? just as they are after a papal death.
The doubts over how the church will cope with two Popes became apparent as Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, who is among the leading contenders to be the first black Pope, launched an open campaign for the job to go to a cardinal from the developing world.
Complete surprise: Several cardinals did not even understand what Benedict had said during the consistatory and those who did were stunned, a Vatican spokesman said
It came just a day after the resignation announcement and more than a fortnight before Benedict?s last major event as Pope, a general audience in St Peter?s Square on February 27.
He will appear in public today for the first time since his resignation, leading Ash Wednesday mass.
The Vatican said that the service will be moved to the larger St Peter?s Basilica Church in the Vatican from the smaller Santa Sabina Church, to allow more worshippers to bid farewell to the outgoing Pontiff.
Cardinal Turkson?s intervention signalled the start of six weeks of rising tension as 117 cardinals prepare to choose the new Pontiff by the end of March.
Of the 117 in the conclave, a majority ? 67 ? are cardinals appointed by Benedict since? 2005. The number of men chosen by Benedict means the new Pontiff may find it hard to break free from his influence.
Serene: Immediately after his resignation, Benedict will spend some time at Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat in hills south of Rome where he has spent his summer vacations reading and writing
Benedict?s resignation on Monday was greeted with tears among some of the cardinals present as he said he lacked the strength of mind and body to continue and that his intention was to ?devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer?.
The Vatican confirmed yesterday that Benedict secretly underwent heart surgery three months ago.
A spokesman acknowledged? that the Pope has a pacemaker? and said the operation was a? ?routine recharge of the pacemaker?s battery?.
However, there was less confidence in settling the question of the title and role the 85-year-old will take after stepping down.
The Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales said firmly on Monday that the Papal name of Benedict will be dropped and the Pope will resume his old name of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
However, yesterday a Vatican spokesman said that he would actually keep the name Benedict and added that his title might be ?Emeritus Bishop of Rome? ? in other words, a second Pope.
Padre Federico Lombardi said of Benedict?s new title: ?His name will remain Benedict XVI. This remains for life, until he dies. It will be interesting to see how we address him, how he will be called.?
Benedict is a Papal name, chosen by a new Pope as his first act? after accepting the Papacy. It means that outgoing Pontiff will continue to hold at least some Papal authority.
It was also suggested that Benedict may continue to be addressed as a Pope with the title ?Your Holiness?.
The risks of Benedict?s continuing presence in Rome provoked? widespread concern yesterday.? La Repubblica, an influential left-leaning newspaper often critical of the Catholic church, said:? ?Benedict will live a few hundred metres from his successor. Will his continuing presence constitute a shadow or a shining beacon of inspiration??
The uncertainty is deepened because there is just one precedent for a voluntary resignation by a Pope ? Celestine V, more than 700 years ago.
Benedict?s new home will be in an apartment block built in 1992 within the Vatican as a home for contemplative orders of nuns or monks. Currently being refurbished, it will be occupied only by the retired Pope and his staff.
It is not known when he will move in, but he will take up residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Papacy?s summer retreat, after his retirement.
For months, construction crews have been renovating the four-storey building attached to a monastery in the Vatican gardens where nuns would live for a few years at a time in cloister.
Construction materials were today seen littering the front lawn of the house while plastic tubing snaked down from the top floor to a cargo container.
New home: A view of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery (right) next to the Tower of San Giovanni, inside the Vatican State where Pope Benedict XVI is expected to live after he resigns
Caught on the hop: Construction crews have been renovating the four-story building attached to the monastery for the Pope's retirement, although many didn't expect it to come so soon
Such was the suddenness of Benedict's decision to quit that even the few officials who knew it would one day be his retirement home have been caught off guard.
The restoration deadline has subsequently become even more critical to ensure the property is comfortable enough for the ailing Pontiff to live his remaining days
The Mater Ecclesiae monastery was built on the site of a former residence for the Vatican's gardener.
Pope John Paul II had wanted a residence inside the Vatican walls to host contemplative religious orders, and over the years several different orders would come for spells of a few years, said Giovanni Maria Vian, the editor of the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.
The last such order of nuns left the residence in October and renovation work began immediately afterwards.
The monastery has 12 cells, its own chapel and library and was once used as the offices of the Vatican Radio.
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday
Relaxing: Pope Benedict reads papers in his summer residence Castel Gandolfo on July 26, 2010
Benedict has visited the monastery a handful of times over the years and celebrated Mass there three times, in 2005, 2006 and 2009.
In his spare time, Benedict likes to likes to play the piano, watch DVDs of black-and-white comedies and read in his study.
There's a garden right outside the front door, where nuns living in the residence would tend to the lemon and orange trees and the roses, which are used in liturgical ceremonies or sent as gifts to the pope.
No chemical fertilizers were used, just organic fertiliser sent straight from the gardens at Castel Gandolfo.
Asked if he might like to go somewhere else, a Vatican spokesman said the pope would feel 'much safer' inside the Vatican walls.
The Vatican's senior communications adviser, Greg Burke, said Tuesday the fact that Benedict had chosen to live in a monastery is significant.
Centre stage: Benedict waves to the faithful during his general audience in Castel Gandolfo in August 2009
'It is something that he has wanted to do for a while,' Burke said. 'But I think it also suggests that his role is going to be a very quiet one, and that is important so you don't have a situation of ... two different popes at the same time, and one influencing the other.
'I think the obvious thing is when he says retirement, it really means retiring,' he said.
Immediately after his resignation, Benedict will spend some time at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, overlooking Lake Albano in the hills south of Rome where he has spent his summer vacations reading and writing.
By March, the weather may start to warm up and he should be able to enjoy the gardens and feed the goldfish in a pond near a statue of the Madonna where he often liked to visit.
If he's interested, he can do some star gazing; The Vatican Observatory is located inside the palazzo, complete with a telescope and a world-class collection of meteorites.
He said Benedict had decided to retire last April after his taxing but exhilarating trip to Mexico and Cuba in March.
'Many people thought they were doing the renovations for new sisters, but it was for the pope,' Vian said. He said only a few people knew of the pope's plans, yet the secret didn't get out.
'That shows the seriousness and loyalty of the few senior Holy See officials who were aware,' he said - a reference to the 2012 scandal over leaked papal documents by the pope's own butler.
VIDEO Pope Benedict expected to retire to Vatican monastery
CANADIAN CARDINAL EDGES AHEAD OF BLACK RIVALS IN RACE FOR PAPACY
In the 24 hours since Pope Benedict's shock resignation, a clear contender for his replacement has yet to emerge.
Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson was yesterday revealed as the early favourite with the bookmakers amid feverish speculation he could become the first black pope.
But he has since been overtaken by his Canadian counterpart Marc Ouellet, who is currently the 3/1 frontrunner, according to Paddy Power.
The bookmaker has already taken ?100,000 worth of bets and expects the papal race to be its biggest non-sporting market ever.
Here, MailOnline looks at the latest odds for those in contention and some of their strongly held beliefs.
3/1 Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 68
Country: Canada
Elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Belief that abortion is unjustifiable, even in cases of rape
7/2 Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 64
Country: Ghana Cardinal in the Ghanaian Catholic Church
Elevated to cardlinalate by Pope John Paul II
9/2 Cardinal Francis Arinze, 80
Country: Nigeria
Elevated to cardlinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Extreme conservatism on birth control and abortion.
6/1 Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 69
Country: Argentina
Elevated to cardinalate by Benedict XVI
Significant views: Said Christians in Iraq under Saddam Hussein were more free than they are now
7/1 Cardinal Angelo Scola, 71
Country: Italy
Elevated to become Archbishop of Milan by Benedict XVI
Significant views: Wants to work more closely with Islam and support Christians in the Middle East
9/1 Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, 70
Country: Honduras
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: A moderate but is anti-abortion and criticised Ricky Martin for using a surrogate mother
12/1 Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, 70
Country: Italy
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI
Significant views: Strongly against abortion and expressed anger towards same-sex unions
16/1 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 78
Country: Italy
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Blamed homosexual infiltration of the clergy for Catholic child sex scandals
20/1 Cardinal Christoph von Schonborn, 68
Country: Austria
Elevated to cardinalate by John Paul II
Significant views: Said use of a condom by an Aids sufferer could be seen as a 'lesser evil'.
Source: Paddy Power
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