Pope Benedict XVI blessed the faithful from his window overlooking
St Peter's Square for the first time since announcing his resignation, cheered
by an emotional crowd of tens of thousands of well-wishers from around the
world.
Benedict, whose surpise announcement last Monday that he
would step down after eight years rocked the Church, called on the world's
faithful to "refocus on God by disowning pride and egoism".
Benedict made no
reference to his stunning decision to step down on February 28. But in an indirect
nod, he thanked the faithful for their "affection and spiritual
closeness."The crowd broke out into cheers and wild applause.
Smiling broadly,
Benedict raised his arms outstretched to the massive crowd in his second-to-last
Angelus blessing before leaving the papacy.
A huge banner in the
square read: "We love you." The Sunday noon appointment is one of the
most cherished traditions of the Catholic Church, and this moment is one of
Benedict's last opportunities to connect with the Catholic masses.
The pope's voice was
strong and clear as he looked intohazy sunshine over the square packed with at
least 50,000 pilgrims.
The pope gave
particular thanks to the "beloved inhabitants of the city of Rome," a
possible hint at the title he will take after retirement. The Vatican has
suggested he may be called "emeritus bishop of Rome."
The traditional noon
appointment normally attracts a few thousand pilgrims and tourists, but city
officials prepared for a crush of people.
"We wanted to
wish him well," said Amy Champion, a tourist from Wales. "It takes a
lot of guts to take the job and even more guts ... to quit."
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