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| Pope Benedict Evokes Difficult Moments in Final General Audience | Pope Benedict Evokes Difficult Moments in Final General Audience |
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| VATICAN CITY — In the waning hours of his troubled papacy, Pope Benedict XVI held his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, telling tens of thousands of believers in an unusually personal public farewell that his nearly eight years in office had known “moments of joy and light but also moments that were not easy” when it seemed “the Lord was sleeping.” | VATICAN CITY — In the waning hours of his troubled papacy, Pope Benedict XVI held his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, telling tens of thousands of believers in an unusually personal public farewell that his nearly eight years in office had known “moments of joy and light but also moments that were not easy” when it seemed “the Lord was sleeping.” |
| The audience came a day before Benedict’s resignation takes formal effect and was one of the last public appearances scheduled before he begins what Vatican officials have depicted as a cloistered life of prayer and meditation. | The audience came a day before Benedict’s resignation takes formal effect and was one of the last public appearances scheduled before he begins what Vatican officials have depicted as a cloistered life of prayer and meditation. |
| In his homily, the pope cited the biblical voyage of Jesus and the apostles on the Sea of Galilee, saying God had given him “so many days of sun and light breezes, when the fishing was abundant. But there were times when the waters were choppy and there were headwinds, as throughout the history of the church, and it looked as if the Lord was sleeping. But I have always known that the Lord was in that boat, that the boat was not mine or ours, but was his and he will not let it founder.” | In his homily, the pope cited the biblical voyage of Jesus and the apostles on the Sea of Galilee, saying God had given him “so many days of sun and light breezes, when the fishing was abundant. But there were times when the waters were choppy and there were headwinds, as throughout the history of the church, and it looked as if the Lord was sleeping. But I have always known that the Lord was in that boat, that the boat was not mine or ours, but was his and he will not let it founder.” |
| His reference was to a scriptural passage in which Jesus falls asleep in a boat with his disciples on a stormy sea. | His reference was to a scriptural passage in which Jesus falls asleep in a boat with his disciples on a stormy sea. |
| Explaining his decision to resign — he is the first pope to withdraw voluntarily in six centuries — he said that in recent months “I felt that my powers were diminished. And I asked the Lord insistently, in prayer, to illuminate me with his light to make me take the right decision not for my good but for the good of the church.” | |
| He added: “To love the church also means having the courage to take difficult decisions, bearing always in mind the good of the church and not of oneself.” His words were frequently interrupted by applause. | He added: “To love the church also means having the courage to take difficult decisions, bearing always in mind the good of the church and not of oneself.” His words were frequently interrupted by applause. |
| The pope recalled the day in April 2005 when he assumed the papacy, and, in an apparent message to his successor, said that whoever succeeds him “no longer has any privacy. He belongs forever and totally to everyone, to all the church.” | The pope recalled the day in April 2005 when he assumed the papacy, and, in an apparent message to his successor, said that whoever succeeds him “no longer has any privacy. He belongs forever and totally to everyone, to all the church.” |
| “My decision to renounce the active exercise of the ministry does not change that. I am not returning to private life, to a life of travel, meetings, receptions, conferences et cetera. I am not abandoning the cross, but I remain close to the crucified Lord in a new way,” he said. | “My decision to renounce the active exercise of the ministry does not change that. I am not returning to private life, to a life of travel, meetings, receptions, conferences et cetera. I am not abandoning the cross, but I remain close to the crucified Lord in a new way,” he said. |
| Vatican officials said around 50,000 tickets had been requested for the occasion, which drew many more pilgrims into the broad boulevard leading toward the Vatican from the Tiber River. | |
| “I’ve never felt lonely while carrying the burden and the joy of Peter’s ministry,” the pope also said. “Many people have helped me, the cardinals with their advice, wisdom and friendship, my collaborators starting with the state secretary and the whole Curia, many of whom lend their service in the background, and all of you,” he said. | |
| “The pope is never alone, and I can now feel it in such a great way that it touches my heart,” he added. | |
| Vatican officials said 150,000 people packed into the square and the avenue leading to it to hear the pope speak, although other estimates put the figure lower. Around 70 cardinals lined up to listen to him in their crimson skullcaps. | Vatican officials said 150,000 people packed into the square and the avenue leading to it to hear the pope speak, although other estimates put the figure lower. Around 70 cardinals lined up to listen to him in their crimson skullcaps. |
| The pope, who is 85, sent shock waves around the Roman Catholic world on Feb. 11 when he announced he would resign effective Thursday. He is scheduled to leave Rome by helicopter for the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo and greet residents and well-wishers there before his retirement formally comes into effect at 8 p.m. At that point, the ceremonial Swiss Guards will march off from the Vatican, signifying that their job of protecting the pope is over until a successor is appointed. | |
| Dressed in white, the pope rode in a covered vehicle known as the popemobile, flanked by security guards, on Wednesday, weaving through the crowd. Several times, the pope halted to bless babies handed to him from the throng. | |
| “We came to give the pope our support,” said Giovanni Sali, 25, a student who had traveled from central Italy. “We want him to know we are close to him.” | “We came to give the pope our support,” said Giovanni Sali, 25, a student who had traveled from central Italy. “We want him to know we are close to him.” |
| Lucilla Martino, from Rome, said she had been surprised when the pope announced his resignation, but it had been a “positive shock” and “the right thing to do.” | Lucilla Martino, from Rome, said she had been surprised when the pope announced his resignation, but it had been a “positive shock” and “the right thing to do.” |
| The resignation 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 resignation 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 resignation has also triggered a surge of maneuvering among the more than 100 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 resignation has also triggered a surge of maneuvering among the more than 100 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 Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from Paris. Gaia Pianigiani contributed reporting from Rome. | Rachel Donadio reported from Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from Paris. Gaia Pianigiani contributed reporting from Rome. |