Pope: Exit is for good of church
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI told thousands of faithful today that he was resigning for “the good of the church” — an extraordinary scene of a pope explaining himself to his flock that unfolded in his first appearance since dropping the bombshell announcement.
Looking tired but serene, the 85-year-old Benedict basked in a standing ovation when he entered the packed hall for his traditional catechism lesson. His speech was interrupted repeatedly by applause, and many in the audience of thousands had tears in their eyes.
A huge banner reading “Grazie Santita” (Thank you Your Holiness) was strung up at the back of the room.
Benedict appeared wan and spoke very softly, but his eyes twinkled at the flock's warm and heartfelt welcome. He repeated in Italian what he had told his cardinals Monday in Latin: that he simply didn't have the strength to continue.
“As you know, I have decided to renounce the ministry that the Lord gave to me on April 19, 2005,” he said, to applause. “I did this in full liberty for the good of the church.”
He thanked the faithful for their prayers and love, which he said he had “physically felt in these days that haven't been easy for me.” And he asked them to “to continue to pray for me, the church, and the future pope.”
The atmosphere was festive and warm, if somewhat bittersweet, as if the crowd was trying to ask him to stay with them for just a bit longer. A chorus of Italian schoolchildren serenaded him with one of his favorite hymns in German — a gesture that won over the pope, who thanked them for singing a piece “particularly dear to me.”
Benedict is the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years, and the decision has placed the Vatican in uncharted waters: No one knows what he'll be called or even what he'll wear after Feb. 28.
The Vatican, however, revealed some details of his final day as pope, saying he would attend a morning farewell ceremony with his cardinals and then fly off by helicopter to the papal summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo. Benedict will be far from the Vatican when he ceases being pope at 8 p.m.
