Images: Pope Benedict XVI’s final public appearance
Pope Benedict XVI gestures during his final general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI has recalled moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty in an emotional, final general audience in St. Peters Square before retiring.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims at the end of his general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI reads a message during his general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI has recalled moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty in an emotional, final general audience in St. Peters Square before retiring.
Associated Press
Priests hold a banner reading in Spanish The greatness of a man in the humility of a pope St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI is preparing for his final general audience, the weekly appointment he kept with the faithful and tourists to teach them about the Catholic faith.
Associated Press
A faithful cries during Pope Benedict XVIs general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims at the end of his general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI reads a message during his final general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI has recalled moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty in an emotional, final general audience in St. Peters Square before retiring.
Associated Press
A man holds a cross as he stands in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI is preparing for his final general audience, the weekly appointment he kept with the faithful and tourists to teach them about the Catholic faith.
Associated Press
Faithful gather for Pope Benedict XVIs last general audience in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI leaves after celebrating his last general audience, in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI is flanked by his personal secretary George Gaenswein as he leaves at the end of his general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI greeted the Catholic masses in St. Peters Square Wednesday for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of the square as crowds cheered wildly and stopping to kiss a half-dozen children brought up to him by his secretary.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell Benedict was driven around the square in an open-sided vehicle, surrounded by bodyguards.
Associated Press
Faithful gather during Pope Benedict XVIs last general audience in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI is driven through the crowd as he greets pilgrims in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives for his last general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying Thank you! jammed St. Peters Square on Wednesday to bid farewell to Pope Benedict XVI at his final general audience, the appointment he kept each week to teach the world about the Catholic faith.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI waves from his pope-mobile as he is driven through the crowd during his last general audience in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI has recalled moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty in an emotional, final general audience in St. Peters Square before retiring. Benedict thanked his cardinals, colleagues and ordinary faithful for their support and for respecting his decision to become the first pope in 600 years to resign.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI greeted the Catholic masses in St. Peters Square Wednesday for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of the square as crowds cheered wildly and stopping to kiss a half-dozen children brought up to him by his secretary.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI opens his arms during his final general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI is driven through the crowd in his pope-mobile as he arrives to celebrate his last general audience in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Faithful are reflected in the roof of Pope Benedict XVIs pope-mobile as he arrives to celebrate his last general audience in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI greeted the Catholic masses in St. Peters Square Wednesday for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of the square as crowds cheered wildly and stopping to kiss a half-dozen children brought up to him by his secretary.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI is driven through the crowd as he greets pilgrims in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying Thank you! jammed St. Peters Square on Wednesday to bid farewell to Pope Benedict XVI at his final general audience, the appointment he kept each week to teach the world about the Catholic faith.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby handed up to him by his secretary George Ganswein as he greets pilgrims in St. Peters Square at the Vatican Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI greeted the Catholic masses in St. Peters Square Wednesday for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of the square as crowds cheered wildly and stopping to kiss a half-dozen children brought up to him by his secretary.
Associated Press
A view of the crowd in St. Peters Square during Pope Benedict XVIs last general audience in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI leaves after celebrating his final general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
A view of the crowd in St. Peters Square during Pope Benedict XVIs last general audience in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peters Square, recalling moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during his final general audience in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI has recalled moments of joy and light during his papacy but also times of great difficulty in an emotional, final general audience in St. Peters Square before retiring.
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI greeted the Catholic masses in St. Peters Square Wednesday for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of the square as crowds cheered wildly and stopping to kiss a half-dozen children brought up to him by his secretary.
Associated Press
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