Photos: Pope Benedict XVI – Last Day as Pope
February 28, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI salutes a cheering crowd gathered to see him from the balcony window of the pontifical summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, before he officially ends his pontificate a few hours later. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
The helicopter carrying Pope Benedict XVI passes over the sky on its way out of Vatican City on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. The Pontiff is flying to Castel Gandolfo where he will cease to be Pope at 8:00pm local time. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman pontiff emeritus or pope emeritus. (Photo by Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images)
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful for the last time from the balcony of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo February 28, 2013. Pope Benedict slips quietly from the world stage on Thursday after a private last goodbye to his cardinals and a short flight to a country palace to enter the final phase of his life "hidden from the world". REUTERS/ Tony Gentile
Pope Benedict XVI blesses faithful from a balcony upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo on February 28, 2013. Once he steps down later in the day, Pope Benedict XVI will begin his retirement in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, a sumptuous villa outside Rome with ornamental gardens, breathtaking views and its own farm. VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful from a balcony upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo on February 28, 2013. Once he steps down later in the day, Pope Benedict XVI will begin his retirement in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, a sumptuous villa outside Rome with ornamental gardens, breathtaking views and its own farm. VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful for the last time from the balcony of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo February 28, 2013. Pope Benedict slips quietly from the world stage on Thursday after a private last goodbye to his cardinals and a short flight to a country palace to enter the final phase of his life "hidden from the world". REUTERS/ Tony Gentile
Pope Benedict XVI leaves as he appears for the last time at the balcony of his summer residence in Castelgandolfo, south of Rome, February 28, 2013. REUTERS/Max Rossi
This handout picture released by the Vatican Press Office on February 28, 2013 shows Pope Benedict XVI (C) delivering a speech to cardinals in the Vatican's ornate Clementine Hall at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI vowed "unconditional obedience" to his successor on his historic final day as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, when he will become the first pontiff to resign since the Middle Ages. OSSERVATORE ROMANO"-/AFP/Getty Images
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, top center, delivers his message on the occasion of his farewell meeting to cardinals, at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Benedict XVI promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor in his final words to his cardinals Thursday, a poignant farewell before he becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)
In this image taken from video, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his final message to the assembly of cardinals at the Vatican Thursday Feb. 28, 2013, before he retires in just a few hours. Benedict urged the cardinals to work in unity and promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor in a poignant and powerful farewell before he becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/Vatican TV)
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message on the occasion of his farewell meeting to cardinals, at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Benedict XVI promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor in his final words to his cardinals Thursday, a poignant farewell before he becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, top center, delivers his message on the occasion of his farewell meeting to cardinals, at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Benedict XVI promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor in his final words to his cardinals Thursday, a poignant farewell before he becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, top center, delivers his message on the occasion of his farewell meeting to cardinals, at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Benedict XVI promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor in his final words to his cardinals Thursday, a poignant farewell before he becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)
Nuns stand in front of the pope's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where Pope Benedict XVI will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Two men stand with a banner reading "Poland Thanks You" on the Zamkowy Square in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, on the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy. At 8 p.m. Benedict will become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)
Young women from Spain dance in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI will leave the Apostolic palace inside the Vatican for the last time as pontiff, head to the helipad at the top of the hill in the Vatican gardens and fly to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome. There, at 8 p.m. sharp, Benedict will become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
People in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City watch a giant screen of the helicopter waiting to carry Pope Benedict XVI to the papal summer residence at Castelgandolfo, February 28, 2013. Pope Benedict slips quietly from the world stage on Thursday after a private last goodbye to his cardinals and a short flight to a country palace to enter the final phase of his life "hidden from the world". REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
People react near a giant screen showing the departure of Pope Benedict XVI from the Vatican City, February 28, 2013. Pope Benedict slips quietly from the world stage on Thursday after a private last goodbye to his cardinals and a short flight to a country palace to enter the final phase of his life "hidden from the world". REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
A worshiper prays during morning mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 in Conroe, Texas. Pope Benedict XVI will become the first pontiff to resign in 600 years. (AP Photo/ The Courier, Jason Fochtman)
People wait for the taking off of the helicopter which will take Pope Benedict XVI to Castel Gandolfo in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Pope Benedict will leave the Apostolic palace inside the Vatican for the last time as pontiff, head to the helipad at the top of the hill in the Vatican gardens and fly to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome. There, at 8 p.m. sharp, Benedict will become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A nun walks past posters of Pope Benedict XVI reading in Italian, " You will stay always with us. Thank you" along a street in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Benedict will leave the Apostolic palace inside the Vatican for the last time as pontiff, head to the helipad at the top of the hill in the Vatican gardens and fly to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome. There, at 8 p.m. sharp, Benedict will become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Nuns stand in front of the summer residence of Pope Benedict XVI in Castelgandolfo, February 28, 2013. Pope Benedict slips quietly from the world stage on Thursday after a private last goodbye to his cardinals and a short flight to a country palace to enter the final phase of his life "hidden from the world". REUTERS/Max Rossi
Nuns play guitars in front of the summer residence of Pope Benedict XVI in Castelgandolfo, February 28, 2013. Pope Benedict slips quietly from the world stage on Thursday after a private last goodbye to his cardinals and a short flight to a country palace to enter the final phase of his life "hidden from the world". REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Two men set up a tapestry at the balcony of the summer residence of Pope Benedict XVI in Castelgandolfo February 28, 2013. Pope Benedict, with only hours left in his papacy, on Thursday pledged unconditional obedience to whoever succeeds him to guide the Roman Catholic Church at one of the most crisis-ridden periods in its 2,000-year history. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Balloons reading "Benedict, all with you" are displayed on the house on February 28, 2013 in Castel Gandolfo. Once he steps down later in the day, Pope Benedict XVI will begin his retirement in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, a sumptuous villa outside Rome with ornamental gardens, breathtaking views and its own farm. VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
A helicopter passes by the dome of St Peter's basilica at the Vatican on February 28, 2013 in Rome. Benedict will board a helicopter at around 1600 GMT to fly to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo outside Rome, where he will stay until his powers formally expire at 1900 GMT. GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Two men sit in front of the pope's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where Pope Benedict XVI will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Faithful gather in front of Pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where Pope Benedict XVI will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Two nuns stand in front of Pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where Pope Benedict XVI will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A poster featuring Pope Benedict XVI with a word 'thank you' is seen on a building on February 25, 2013 in Cologne. OLIVER BERG/AFP/Getty Images
The helicopter with Pope Benedict XVI aboard flies past St Peter’s square at the Vatican on February 28, 2013 in Rome. Pope Benedict XVI boarded a helicopter to fly to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo outside Rome, where he will stay until his powers formally expire at 1900 GMT. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI greets faithful from his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where he will spend his first post-Vatican days and made his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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