After eight years with their fair share of ups and downs, Pope Benedict XVI has left the Vatican for the last time. He’s spent his last few hours as the head of the Catholic Church at a papal summer residence called Castel Gandolfo, a town southeast of Rome. Greeting Roman well-wishers from a window, Pope Benedict called, “Dear friends, I am happy to be with you! Thanks for your friendship and affection! You know this is a different day than others.” He also convened with over a hundred Cardinals, to whom he said “Among you is also the future pope, whom I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience,” His retirement officially took place at about 2 PM EST …