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Benedict XVI holds final papal audience in Vatican Benedict XVI holds final papal audience in Vatican
(35 minutes later)
Tens of thousands of people have crowded into St Peter's Square in the Vatican for the Pope's final general audience before his resignation. Pope Benedict XVI is making his final address to a general audience in St Peter's Square in the Vatican before his resignation on Thursday.
Papal audiences are normally held inside a Vatican hall in the winter. He told the crowd of thousands it was a heavy burden when he took up the papacy in April 2005 but he had been guided by God and felt his presence every day.
But such is the level of interest that the event is being held outdoors and 50,000 tickets have been requested. As many as 200,000 people may attend. Up to 200,000 people are expected to attend the audience, which - unusually for winter - is taking place outdoors.
After Benedict XVI steps down on Thursday, he will become known as "pope emeritus". There has not been a papal resignation since Gregory XII in 1415.
There has been no papal resignation since Pope Gregory XII abdicated in 1415. After Benedict XVI steps down, he will become known as "pope emeritus".
Even before the sun was up, people began arriving at St Peter's. Hundreds queued in the cold grey light to make sure that they would have a good spot on the square when Pope Benedict makes his final public appearance.Even before the sun was up, people began arriving at St Peter's. Hundreds queued in the cold grey light to make sure that they would have a good spot on the square when Pope Benedict makes his final public appearance.
People of all ages were streaming in. There were flags and balloons, chatter and laughter, and some singing up at the front. And when the gates finally opened, the crowd rushed in, with delighted young priests among those scampering across the cobblestones.People of all ages were streaming in. There were flags and balloons, chatter and laughter, and some singing up at the front. And when the gates finally opened, the crowd rushed in, with delighted young priests among those scampering across the cobblestones.
The Pope certainly has his critics within Catholicism and beyond. But nobody will be speaking badly of Benedict here today. The people queuing said they wanted a chance to see him last one time, and express their gratitude for his life of service to the Church.The Pope certainly has his critics within Catholicism and beyond. But nobody will be speaking badly of Benedict here today. The people queuing said they wanted a chance to see him last one time, and express their gratitude for his life of service to the Church.
Members of a group that had travelled the length of Italy talked of their emotions - happiness that the Pope had made a decision to retire that he felt was right for him, but sadness, too, at the departure of someone they regarded as a great man.Members of a group that had travelled the length of Italy talked of their emotions - happiness that the Pope had made a decision to retire that he felt was right for him, but sadness, too, at the departure of someone they regarded as a great man.
The surprise announcement of Benedict's abdication has required the rules of electing a successor to be changed to allow the next pope to be chosen before Holy Week, which leads up to Easter. The surprise announcement of his abdication has required the rules of electing a successor to be changed to allow the next pope to be chosen before Holy Week, which leads up to Easter.
The Pope, 85, is making one of his last public appearances - using his trademark white "popemobile" to greet pilgrims in St Peter's Square. The white "popemobile" rolled slowly through St Peter's Square, carrying the 85-year-old Pontiff, who waved to the assembled pilgrims.
They chanted his name and thanked him for his service to the Church. At one point, Pope Benedict paused to kiss a baby who was passed up to him.
Many of the cardinals who will elect his successor are in the square.Many of the cardinals who will elect his successor are in the square.
Chants of "Benedetto!" are erupting every so often and the mood is buoyant, reports the Associated Press.
Organisers say there will be no traditional kissing of the pontiff's hand because of the sheer size of the expected crowd.Organisers say there will be no traditional kissing of the pontiff's hand because of the sheer size of the expected crowd.
"He doesn't want to favour one or the other of the pilgrims," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told the AFP news agency."He doesn't want to favour one or the other of the pilgrims," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told the AFP news agency.
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says that on Thursday the Pope will travel by helicopter to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, about 15 miles (24km) south-east of Rome. He will cease to be Pope at 20:00 local time.The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says that on Thursday the Pope will travel by helicopter to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, about 15 miles (24km) south-east of Rome. He will cease to be Pope at 20:00 local time.
On Tuesday, it emerged that Benedict would be known as "pope emeritus" and would retain the honorific "His Holiness" after his abdication.On Tuesday, it emerged that Benedict would be known as "pope emeritus" and would retain the honorific "His Holiness" after his abdication.
He will also continue to be known by his papal title of Benedict XVI, rather than reverting to Joseph Ratzinger.He will also continue to be known by his papal title of Benedict XVI, rather than reverting to Joseph Ratzinger.
He will wear his distinctive white cassock without any cape or trimmings. He will wear his distinctive white cassock without any cape or trimmings, but will surrender his gold ring of office and his personal seal will be destroyed.
He will surrender his gold ring of office, known as the fisherman's ring, and his personal seal will be destroyed in the same way as when a pope dies. He will also give up wearing his red shoes.
Benedict will also give up wearing his specially-made red leather loafers, instead wearing brown shoes hand-made for him by a craftsman during a brief visit to Mexico last year, the Vatican said. "On the one hand I felt that since the decision that he would leave office and resign became public, Pope Benedict is relieved," said the head of the German bishops' conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch.
"But he also now feels the sympathy of the people for him, and therefore he will have a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, a bit of sadness."
FarewellFarewell
The title "emeritus" is used when a person of status, such as a professor or bishop, hands over their position, so their former rank can be retained in their title.The title "emeritus" is used when a person of status, such as a professor or bishop, hands over their position, so their former rank can be retained in their title.
The Pope is to spend his final hours at his Vatican residence saying farewell to the cardinals who have been his closest aides during his eight-year pontificate, says the BBC's David Willey at the Vatican.The Pope is to spend his final hours at his Vatican residence saying farewell to the cardinals who have been his closest aides during his eight-year pontificate, says the BBC's David Willey at the Vatican.
His personal archive of documents will be packed up and, at 20:00 (19:00 GMT) on Thursday, the Swiss Guard on duty at his Castel Gandolfo residence will be dismissed, to be replaced by Vatican police.His personal archive of documents will be packed up and, at 20:00 (19:00 GMT) on Thursday, the Swiss Guard on duty at his Castel Gandolfo residence will be dismissed, to be replaced by Vatican police.
This will mark the formal end of his papacy and the beginning of the period of transition to his successor, due to be chosen next month.This will mark the formal end of his papacy and the beginning of the period of transition to his successor, due to be chosen next month.
From 4 March, the College of Cardinals will meet in general congregations to discuss the problems facing the Church and set a date for the start of the secret election, or conclave, to elect Pope Benedict's successor.From 4 March, the College of Cardinals will meet in general congregations to discuss the problems facing the Church and set a date for the start of the secret election, or conclave, to elect Pope Benedict's successor.
That successor will be chosen by 115 cardinal-electors (those younger than 80 years old) through ballots held in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.That successor will be chosen by 115 cardinal-electors (those younger than 80 years old) through ballots held in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.
A two-thirds-plus-one vote majority is required. Sixty-seven of the electors were appointed by Benedict XVI, and the remainder by his predecessor John Paul II.A two-thirds-plus-one vote majority is required. Sixty-seven of the electors were appointed by Benedict XVI, and the remainder by his predecessor John Paul II.
About half the cardinal-electors (60) are European - 21 of them Italian - and many have worked for the administrative body of the Church, the Curia, in Rome.About half the cardinal-electors (60) are European - 21 of them Italian - and many have worked for the administrative body of the Church, the Curia, in Rome.
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