Pope Benedict XVI told the 150,000 worshippers who packed into St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican for his final Mass on Wednesday that he is “not coming down from the cross.” Benedict, the first pope in almost 600 years to retire, recalled the “joy” of the papacy, but also insisted “to love the church means to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself.” Meanwhile, most of the church’s most powerful cardinals are already in the Vatican to pick Benedict’s successor, and Benedict will meet with them for the final time on Thursday morning. Oddsmakers have Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson at 11–4 odds of being the next pope, with Italy’s Archbishop Angelo Scola with 3–1 odds.
Gregorio Borgia/AP; Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty; Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty; Peter Macdiarmid/Getty
A faithful reads a magazine in St. Peter’s Square ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s last weekly audience, on February 27, at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI held the last audience of his pontificate in St. Peter’s Square on the eve of his historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, February 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. Peter’s Square before retiring.
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives in St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile on February 27 in Vatican City. The pontiff has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.
Faithful wave flags in St. Peter’s square ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s last weekly audience, February 27, at the Vatican.
Cardinals attend the pope's general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, February 27.
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives in St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City. The pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, February 27.
A general view of a packed Saint Peter’s Square as Pope Benedict XVI holds his last general audience at the Vatican on February 27. The weekly event would normally be held in a vast auditorium in winter but has been moved outdoors to St. Peter’s Square so more people can attend.
Pope Benedict XVI travels in the popemobile through St. Peter’s Square on February 27 in Vatican City.
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives in St. Peter’s Square for his last weekly audience on the eve of his resignation. An estimated 150,000 packed into the square, carrying signs reading “Grazie!”
