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| Pope Benedict blessing: Tens of thousands hear prayer | Pope Benedict blessing: Tens of thousands hear prayer |
| (17 days later) | |
| Tens of thousands of pilgrims have attended St Peter's Square in Rome for one of the final public appearances of Pope Benedict XVI. | Tens of thousands of pilgrims have attended St Peter's Square in Rome for one of the final public appearances of Pope Benedict XVI. |
| He is stepping down on 28 February. | He is stepping down on 28 February. |
| The Pope recited the Angelus prayer and thanked all those who had prayed for him and shown him support over the past few days since his resignation. | The Pope recited the Angelus prayer and thanked all those who had prayed for him and shown him support over the past few days since his resignation. |
| The Vatican has said it may hold the conclave that chooses the new pope early, so he can be in place before the start of Holy Week on 24 March. | The Vatican has said it may hold the conclave that chooses the new pope early, so he can be in place before the start of Holy Week on 24 March. |
| Vatican accommodation | Vatican accommodation |
| The Pope appeared at his study window overlooking St Peter's Square at 11:00 GMT, his first such appearance since announcing his resignation last Monday. | The Pope appeared at his study window overlooking St Peter's Square at 11:00 GMT, his first such appearance since announcing his resignation last Monday. |
| The crowd erupted into loud applause and there were chants of "Long live the Pope". | The crowd erupted into loud applause and there were chants of "Long live the Pope". |
| One banner in the square read: "We love you". | One banner in the square read: "We love you". |
| The Pope used his Angelus appearance to urge the faithful to "renew" and "refocus" on God. | The Pope used his Angelus appearance to urge the faithful to "renew" and "refocus" on God. |
| He said: "The Church calls on all its members to renew themselves... which constitutes a fight, a spiritual battle, because the evil spirit wants us to deviate from the road towards God." | He said: "The Church calls on all its members to renew themselves... which constitutes a fight, a spiritual battle, because the evil spirit wants us to deviate from the road towards God." |
| The pope spoke in a number of languages; speaking in Spanish, he said: "I beg you to continue praying for me and for the next pope." | The pope spoke in a number of languages; speaking in Spanish, he said: "I beg you to continue praying for me and for the next pope." |
| The BBC's David Willey in Rome says that after the prayer recital on Sunday the Pope plans to spend the rest of the week on a Lenten prayer retreat closeted inside the Apostolic Palace with senior cardinals and bishops. | The BBC's David Willey in Rome says that after the prayer recital on Sunday the Pope plans to spend the rest of the week on a Lenten prayer retreat closeted inside the Apostolic Palace with senior cardinals and bishops. |
| He says the retreat will be a time of reflection about what Pope Benedict's eight-year long papacy has achieved and what are the priorities now facing a Church whose credibility has been seriously harmed by clerical sex abuse scandals. | He says the retreat will be a time of reflection about what Pope Benedict's eight-year long papacy has achieved and what are the priorities now facing a Church whose credibility has been seriously harmed by clerical sex abuse scandals. |
| Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said earlier: "The Pope is living through these days calmly even though they're very emotional and packed." | Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said earlier: "The Pope is living through these days calmly even though they're very emotional and packed." |
| The Vatican said on Saturday it was considering calls from cardinals to hold the papal conclave earlier than planned, to have a pontiff in place before Holy Week, the most important event in the Christian calendar. | The Vatican said on Saturday it was considering calls from cardinals to hold the papal conclave earlier than planned, to have a pontiff in place before Holy Week, the most important event in the Christian calendar. |
| Under current rules, the vote cannot be held before 15 March, to give cardinals enough time to travel to Rome. The Vatican is examining the possibility of changing the rule. | Under current rules, the vote cannot be held before 15 March, to give cardinals enough time to travel to Rome. The Vatican is examining the possibility of changing the rule. |
| After his spiritual retreat, the Pope will have very few public engagements. | After his spiritual retreat, the Pope will have very few public engagements. |
| He is scheduled to receive Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on 23 February. | He is scheduled to receive Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on 23 February. |
| The Pope will then celebrate Angelus again on 24 February and hold a final audience in St Peter's Square on 27 February. | The Pope will then celebrate Angelus again on 24 February and hold a final audience in St Peter's Square on 27 February. |
| Pope Benedict will be flown to his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo on 28 February and remain there as accommodation in the Vatican is prepared. | Pope Benedict will be flown to his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo on 28 February and remain there as accommodation in the Vatican is prepared. |
| At 19:00 GMT on 28 February he will no longer by pope. | At 19:00 GMT on 28 February he will no longer by pope. |
| One Vatican official told Reuters news agency it was "absolutely necessary" that Benedict lived in the enclave, "otherwise he might be defenceless". | One Vatican official told Reuters news agency it was "absolutely necessary" that Benedict lived in the enclave, "otherwise he might be defenceless". |
| "He wouldn't have his immunity, his prerogatives, his security, if he is anywhere else," the official said. | "He wouldn't have his immunity, his prerogatives, his security, if he is anywhere else," the official said. |
| There are concerns he could be cited in relation to legal cases connected with alleged sexual abuses by Catholic Church officials. | There are concerns he could be cited in relation to legal cases connected with alleged sexual abuses by Catholic Church officials. |
| The 85-year-old pontiff announced his shock resignation last Monday, citing his advanced age as the reason for stepping down. | The 85-year-old pontiff announced his shock resignation last Monday, citing his advanced age as the reason for stepping down. |
| The last pontiff to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who quit in 1415 amid a schism within the Church. | The last pontiff to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who quit in 1415 amid a schism within the Church. |