The Clowns of God [antikvár]

[In the seventh year of Ms reign, two days before his sixty-fifth birthday, in the presence of a full consistory of Cardinals, Jean Marie Barette, Pope Gregory XVII, signed an instrument of abdication, took off the Fisherman's ring, handed his seal to the Cardinal Camerlengo and made a curt speech of farewell."So, my brethren! It is done as you demanded. I am sure you will explain it all adequately to the Church and to the world. I hope you will elect yourselves a good man. God knows you will need himl"Three hours later, accompanied by a colonel of the Swiss Guard, he presented himself at the Monastery of Monte Cassino and placed himself under the obedience of the Abbot. The colonel drove immediately back to Rome and reported to the Cardinal Camerlengo that his mission was accomplished.The Camerlengo breathed a long sigh of relief and set about the formalities of proclaiming that the See of Peter was vacant and that an election would be held with all possible speed.