Local reaction to the Pope's farewell

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)-- Now that Pope Benedict XVI has said his last goodbye, the faithful here in Connecticut will be saying something different in their daily mass.

"At every mass, during the Eucharist prayer, the church mentions two things, the pope who we are in union with in the Eucharist, and also the local bishop," said Fr. Thomas Shepard, of St. Aedan's Church.

But once the pope is no longer the pope, he no longer gets mentioned in that prayer. Father Thomas Shepard, of St. Aedan's in New Haven, says that small difference in one prayer is about all people should notice about the change in Rome.

"This is an opportunity, I believe, for us to remember that the church, as church theology reminds us, are the people of God, and bishops, priests, deacons are at the service of the people of God," said Fr. Shepard

And for a couple thousand years now, those people, and the church have endured far more upheaval than a pope resigning for the first time in 600 years. Now, the focus for the faithful is which of the cardinals will be the next pope?

"I think one thing that any pope requires is to be a pastor, which means to know his people and to know the lord," said Fr. Shepard.