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Pope Benedict Prepares for Final General Audience Pope Benedict Holds Final General Audience
(35 minutes later)
ROME — In the waning hours of his troubled papacy, Pope Benedict XVI prepared on Wednesday to hold his final general audience as tens of thousands of believers gathered in St. Peter’s Square a day before his resignation takes formal effect. VATICAN CITY — In the waning hours of his troubled papacy, Pope Benedict XVI arrived in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday to hold his final general audience as tens of thousands of believers gathered to catch a glimpse of him a day before his resignation takes formal effect.
The audience was billed as one of the last public appearances scheduled before the pope withdraws from public life to assume what Vatican officials have depicted as a cloistered life of prayer and meditation.
Vatican officials said around 50,000 tickets had been requested for the occasion, which is likely to draw many more pilgrims into the broad boulevard leading toward the Vatican from the River Tiber.Vatican officials said around 50,000 tickets had been requested for the occasion, which is likely to draw many more pilgrims into the broad boulevard leading toward the Vatican from the River Tiber.
The pope sent shock waves around the Roman Catholic world on Feb. 11 when he announced he would resign on Thursday — the first pope to have done so voluntarily in six centuries. The pope sent shock waves around the Roman Catholic world on Feb. 11 when he announced he would resign on Thursday — the first pope to have done so voluntarily in six centuries. Aged 85, he said he was resigning because of failing strength.
Dressed in white, the pope appeared on Tuesday riding in a covered vehicle known as a Popemobile flanked by security guards, weaving a way through the crowd.
The announcement left officials scrambling to deal with the protocols of his departure as he ceases to be the leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics. Only on Tuesday did the Vatican announce that he will keep the name Benedict XVI and will be known as the Roman pontiff emeritus or pope emeritus.The announcement left officials scrambling to deal with the protocols of his departure as he ceases to be the leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics. Only on Tuesday did the Vatican announce that he will keep the name Benedict XVI and will be known as the Roman pontiff emeritus or pope emeritus.
He will dress in a simple white cassock, forgoing the mozzetta, the elbow-length cape worn by some Catholic clergymen, the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, told reporters at a news briefing on Tuesday.He will dress in a simple white cassock, forgoing the mozzetta, the elbow-length cape worn by some Catholic clergymen, the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, told reporters at a news briefing on Tuesday.
And he will no longer wear the red shoes typically worn by popes, symbolizing the blood of the martyrs, Father Lombardi said, opting instead for a more quotidian brown.And he will no longer wear the red shoes typically worn by popes, symbolizing the blood of the martyrs, Father Lombardi said, opting instead for a more quotidian brown.
Benedict’s looming departure has also triggered a surge of maneuvering among the 117 cardinals who will elect his successor in a conclave starting next month, reviving concerns about the clerical abuse scandals that dogged Benedict’s time at the Vatican.Benedict’s looming departure has also triggered a surge of maneuvering among the 117 cardinals who will elect his successor in a conclave starting next month, reviving concerns about the clerical abuse scandals that dogged Benedict’s time at the Vatican.
Indeed, the abrupt resignation of the most senior Roman Catholic cardinal in Britain on Monday — after accusations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward priests years ago — showed that the taint of scandal could force a cardinal from participating in the selection of a new pope.Indeed, the abrupt resignation of the most senior Roman Catholic cardinal in Britain on Monday — after accusations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward priests years ago — showed that the taint of scandal could force a cardinal from participating in the selection of a new pope.
His exit came as at least a dozen other cardinals tarnished with accusations that they had failed to remove priests accused of sexually abusing minors were among those gathering in Rome to prepare for the conclave.His exit came as at least a dozen other cardinals tarnished with accusations that they had failed to remove priests accused of sexually abusing minors were among those gathering in Rome to prepare for the conclave.
But there was no indication that the church’s promise to confront the sexual abuse scandal had led to direct pressure on those cardinals to exempt themselves from the conclave.But there was no indication that the church’s promise to confront the sexual abuse scandal had led to direct pressure on those cardinals to exempt themselves from the conclave.

Rachel Donadio reported from Rome, and Alan Cowell from Paris.

Rachel Donadio reported from Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from Paris.