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Pope Benedict greets crowds at final general audience Pope Benedict recalls 'joy and light' of papacy at final general audience
(35 minutes later)
Pope Benedict XVI greeted the Catholic masses for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of St Peter's Square and stopping to kiss half a dozen children brought up to him by his secretary. Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional sendoff at his final general audience in St Peter's Square, recalling moments of "joy and light" during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Tens of thousands of people crowded into the square to bid farewell to the pope at his final general audience – the appointment he has kept each week to teach the world about the Catholic faith. Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying "Grazie!" jammed the piazza in Rome to bid Benedict farewell and join the appointment he has kept each week for eight years to teach the world about the Catholic faith.
Pilgrims and curiosity-seekers picked spots along the main boulevard nearby to watch the event on giant TV screens. Fifty thousand tickets were requested for Benedict's final masterclass, and Italian media estimated the number of people attending could be double that. Benedict clearly enjoyed the crowds, taking a long ride around the square in an open-sided car and stopping to kiss and bless half a dozen children handed to him by his secretary.
With chants of "Benedetto!" erupting every so often, the mood – even hours before Benedict was to arrive – was far more buoyant than during the pope's final Sunday blessing, and recalled the jubilant turnouts that often accompanied him at World Youth Days and events involving his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. In keeping with the historic moment, Benedict changed course and did not produce his typical Wednesday catechism lesson. Rather, he made his final public appearance in St Peter's a personal one, explaining once again why he was becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign and urging the faithful to pray for his successor.
"To love the church means also to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself," Benedict said to thundering applause.
He recalled that when he was elected pope on 19 April 2005, he questioned whether God truly wanted it. "'It's a great burden that you've placed on my shoulders,'" he recalled telling God.
During eight years, he said, "I have had moments of joy and light, but also moments that haven't been easy … moments of turbulent seas and rough winds".
But he said he never felt alone and thanked his cardinals and colleagues for their guidance and for "understanding and respecting this important decision".
Under a bright sun and blue skies, the square was overflowing with pilgrims and curiosity-seekers. Those who couldn't get in picked spots along the main boulevard leading to the square to watch the event on giant TV screens. Fifty thousand tickets were requested for Benedict's final masterclass, and Italian media estimated the number of people attending could be double that.
"It's difficult – the emotion is so big," said Jan Marie, a 53-year-old Roman in his first years as a seminarian. "We came to support the pope's decision, and feel the air of the church.""It's difficult – the emotion is so big," said Jan Marie, a 53-year-old Roman in his first years as a seminarian. "We came to support the pope's decision, and feel the air of the church."
On Thursday Benedict will become the first pope in 600 years to resign, a decision he said he had taken after realising that at 85 he no longer had the strength of mind or body to carry on. On Thursday Benedict will meet cardinals for the last time, and then fly by helicopter to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome. There, at 8pm, the doors of the palazzo will close and the Swiss Guards in attendance will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic church over – for now.
He will meet cardinals for the last time on Thursday, and then fly by helicopter to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.
There, at 8pm, the doors of the palazzo will close and the Swiss Guards in attendance will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic church over – for now.
Many of the cardinals who will choose Benedict's successor were in St Peter's Square for his final audience. Vatican officials say cardinals will begin meeting on Monday to decide when to set the date for the conclave to elect the next pope.Many of the cardinals who will choose Benedict's successor were in St Peter's Square for his final audience. Vatican officials say cardinals will begin meeting on Monday to decide when to set the date for the conclave to elect the next pope.
The rank-and-file in the crowd on Wednesday were not so concerned with the future; they wanted to savour the final moments with the pope they have known for eight years.The rank-and-file in the crowd on Wednesday were not so concerned with the future; they wanted to savour the final moments with the pope they have known for eight years.
"I came to thank him for the testimony that he has given the church," said Maria Cristina Chiarini, 52, who had travelled from Lugo, near Ravenna, with 60 members of her parish. "There's nostalgia, human nostalgia, but also comfort, because as a Christian we have hope. The Lord won't leave us without a guide.""I came to thank him for the testimony that he has given the church," said Maria Cristina Chiarini, 52, who had travelled from Lugo, near Ravenna, with 60 members of her parish. "There's nostalgia, human nostalgia, but also comfort, because as a Christian we have hope. The Lord won't leave us without a guide."