Amid a vast crowd, Pope Benedict XVI made his final public appearance before his resignation of the papacy takes effect Thursday night.
St. Peter's Square was packed with an estimated 150,000 well-wishers, many carrying signs and banners thanking the pope for his eight years of service, the Associated Press reported.
Pope Benedict has addressed a general audience to teach the world about the Catholic faith each week for the entirety of his tenure, the report said. He clearly enjoyed his last address, taking extra time to move around the square in an open-sided car and stopping to bless children, the AP reported.
Pope Benedict made his final public appearance a personal one and explained again his decision to leave the papacy.
"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," Pope Benedict said, according to the AP.
During his speech, Pope Benedict recalled a moment when he was elected to position on April 19, 2005 he questioned whether God truly wanted it, the AP reported.
"'It's a great burden that you've placed on my shoulders,'" the pope recalled telling God.
The pope said during his eight years, "I have had moments of joy and light, but also moments that haven't been easy ... moments of turbulent seas and rough winds."
At 85-years-old the pope decided to retire after realizing he lacked "strength of mind or body" to carry on. Pope Benedict XVI's final hours as head of the Catholic church will include a final morning meeting with cardinals Thursday morning.
Afterwards he will fly by helicopter to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo in the south of Rome, the AP reported. At 8 p.m. the Swiss Guards assigned to protect him will go off duty, the article said. Their service protecting the head of the Catholic church over, at least for the moment.
According to the AP, Cardinals are set to convene Monday to decide when to set a date for the conclave to elect the next pope.
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