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Osservatore Romano / AFP - Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI's leads the Angelus prayer from the window of his apartments on Sunday in the Vatican. The pontiff celebrates his last Angelus prayer at the end of a week-long spiritual retreat, ahead of his resignation on Thursday.
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI gave his pontificate's final Sunday blessing from his studio window to the cheers of tens of thousands of people packing St. Peter's Square, but sought to reassure the faithful that he wasn't abandoning the church by retiring to spend his final years in prayer.
The 85-year-old Benedict is stepping down on Thursday evening, the first pope to do so in 600 years, after saying he no longer has the mental or physical strength to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
But while he has lately looked tired and frail, the crowd filling the cobblestone square seemed to energize him, and he spoke in a clear, strong voice, repeatedly thanking the faithful for their closeness and affection as they interrupted him, again and again, with applause and cheers. Police estimated some 100,000 people turned out.
Benedict told the crowd that God is calling him to dedicate himself "even more to prayer and meditation," which he will do in a secluded monastery being renovated for him on the grounds behind Vatican City's ancient walls.
"But this doesn't mean abandoning the church," he said, as many in the crowd looked sad at his departure from regular view. "On the contrary, if God asks me, this is because I can continue to serve it (the church) with the same dedication and the same love which I have tried to do so until now, but in a way more suitable to my age and to my strength."
Scandals are still on the minds of Catholics as Benedict's time as pope grows short. NBC's Ann Thompson reports.
The phrase "tried to" was the pope's adlibbed addition to his prepared text.
Benedict has one more public appearance, a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square.
Benedict smiled at the crowd after an aide parted the white curtain at his window, telling the people, "thank you for your affection."
Heavy rain had been forecast for Rome, and some drizzle dampened the square earlier in the morning. But when Benedict appeared, to the peal of church bells as the clock struck noon, blue sky crept through the clouds.
"We thank God for the sun he has given us," the pope said, sounding cheerful.
As cheers continued in the crowd, the pontiff simply turned away from the window and stepped back down into apartment, which he will leave on Thursday, taking a helicopter to the Vatican summer residence in the hills outside Rome while he waits for the monastery to be ready.
A child in the crowd held up a sign on a yellow placard, written in Italian, "You are not alone, I'm with you." Other admirers held homemade signs, saying "Grazie."
No date has yet been set for the start of the conclave of cardinals, who will vote in secret to elect Benedict's successor.
One Italian in the crowd seemed to be doing a little campaigning, hoisting a sign which mentioned the name of two Italian cardinals considered by observers to be potential contenders in the selection of the next pontiff.
Flags in the crowd represented many nations, with a large number from Brazil.
The cardinals in the conclave will have to decide whether it's time to look outside of Europe for a pope.
Related:
Vatican blasts Italian media for 'false and damaging' reports
LA's Cardinal Mahony calls himself 'scapegoat' ahead of deposition, conclave
US Catholics like Pope Benedict but many ready for new direction, married priests
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Ah, such a feeling to be blessed by a supporter of child molestation. . .
Whenever I see a Catholic in the grocery store or gas station I let them know they are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Walk away.
And how exactly is antagonizing strangers being "part of the solution"? Or is it just for you own smug self satisfaction? You must be a joy to interact with on a daily basis.
All the sheep replied "baa baa father boylover, baa baa"
Jerry Sandusky for Pope!
Frank - and all the other poor victims:
I am so sorry. I hurt from head to toe whenever I hear or read anything like this. It's mindboggling how things were kept quiet for centuries and the church was able to keep public opinion out of it. That's what they wanted. Victims of sex crimes need others to fight for them because the injury happens at the blueprint of the person's body and soul, and damages the most protected part of their psyche.
Most victims are too young, to innocent, too inexperienced and too vulnerable, and the attacker is too premeditated, too experienced, too predatory, and sees innocence as a weakness to be exploited.
Does that remind you of cancer? Our illnesses mirror our society - or is it the other way around? I used to believe in a loving God, but I don't know how he can sit and watch the innocent get so terribly hurt, even with the promise of a "perfect afterlife."
What's here and now matters here and now. Our ability to feel pain is meant to give us an understanding of how another being hurts, but the predators lack that - and there are new ones born every day. What happens to the next person happens to us. It shouldn't be overlooked.
Scum-sucking Nazi pope. Stupid parishoners worshiping homosexual, child-raping grown men who wear green pink and purple velveteen slippers and caps and women's garments. It's sickness on a grand scale.
Maybe next time they can hire a Pope who wasn't part of the criminal conspiracy to cover up pedophilia?
Even better if they hire one who isn't such an utterly clueless homophobe and misogynist, but that might be asking too much. What they really need is a Pope who is willing to come out of the closet.
JESUS is crying, not because of one mans retirement...but for ALL the atrocities that those in high position ignore!Only GOD ,HIMSELF,can save this situation.
All you Anti-Catholic pond scum remember this; where would the world be without the Church's historical contributions worldwide in disaster relief/aid, education(Schools,Colleges,Universities) medical care(hospitals) and charity regardless of race, religion or nationality. Even St. Obama donated to Catholic Charities as shown by his Federal tax return. So all haters out there be sure not to utilize any of the above. Sure the Church has made some awful mistakes but how many other people or institutions haven't?
How many other large institutions have conspired on a global basis to cover up the rape of children and move the perpetrators to new unsuspecting communities so they can rape again?
How many other large institutions have been led by someone who personally helped hide pedophiles like Peter Hullerman and Stephen Kiesle?
How many other large institutions have kept slaves well into the 1990s?
Yes, I proudly HATE the RCC....................it is a den of child molesters and those that protect these Catholic molesters from law-enforcement investigation and prosecution!!!!!!
Awful mistakes??? Is that what you call it???? Cuz I call it heinous crime! and your pope and all the other popes contributed to it!!!! they also were the ones who held inquisitions and witch hunts and tortured people!!!! So ya... I detest catholicism and all other organized religion...
It has become quite obvious now........the Roman Catholic Church and Christ's true Church are quite distinct entities!!!! www.catholicarrogance.org
Frank's post sure seemed to shut the catholic church defenders up! Nothing like graphic details of a priest raping a child to put things in perspective. There are many others like Frank out there but, understandably, few are willing to share the way Frank did. His courage is truly inspirational and the graphic account of what happened to him might be the only thing that has the power to make catholics stop supporting, and start demanding accountability from, their church.
Easter isn't that far away. I'd think with the advance notice the date of the conclave could have been decided and announced by now. Don't assume that the process will take place quickly and god forbid it's anything like the US House of Representatives...in that case they wouldn't elect a pope by this time next year!
How many "last" things are you going to feature about this pope? Last wave as pope. Last tooth brushing as pope. Last cup of coffee as pope. There is nothing left to talk about.
He will probably bone his last altar boy as pope pretty soon, but that one won't be talked about.
Why do Catholics think they need a pope? They all pray to Jesus' mother instead of God, anyway. How does that work? The pope is just there to occupy the Vatican and keep the property from being developed by Italian mobsters.
My how times have changed. Who would have ever thought that the Pope would resign in disgrace?
I think more Popes probably should learn to retire while they still have some life in them. John Paul II was a great man in his prime, but the dude was basically a corpse with a big hat in his later years.
I know the church has done some terrible things, but some of the vile "jokes" I see a lot of you post and hatred you spew isn't exactly making the world a better place either.