Faithful gather on St Peter's square ahead of Pope Benedict XVI last weekly audience at the Vatican. Tens of thousands of emotional pilgrims cheered and whooped he rode out in his white "popemobile". AFP/Tiziana Fabi
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Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives on St Peter's square for his last weekly audience. He bid an emotional farewell at his last general audience acknowledging the "rough seas" that marked his papacy "when it seemed that the Lord was sleeping." AFP/Alberto Pizzoli
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Pope appears on a giant screen in a packed Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican during his last general audience. He alluded to some of the most difficult times of his papacy, which was dogged by sex abuse scandals, leaks of his private papers and reports of infighting among his closest aides. Reuters/Stefano Rellandini
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Pope Benedict XVI blesses faithful at the end of his last weekly audience at St Peter's square at the Vatican. Benedict said his decision to resign had not been an easy one but had been taken for the good of the Church. AFP/Gabriel Bouys
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A faithful cries during Pope Benedict XVI's general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying "Grazie!" - "Thank you" - jammed the piazza in Rome to bid Benedict farewell. AP/Gregorio Borgia
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A faithful attends, with a cross in hand, Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St Peter's Square, at the Vatican. Benedict stopped to kiss and bless half a dozen children handed to him by his secretary. AP/Oded Balilty
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Pope Benedict XVI waves from his pope-mobile as he is driven through the crowd during his last general audience in St Peter's Square, at the Vatican. Benedict thanked his cardinals, colleagues and ordinary faithful for their support and for respecting his decision to become the first pope in 600 years to resign. AP/Oded Balilty
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Pope Benedict XVI's personal secretary George Gaenswein wipes his eye as the Pope delivers his message during his last general audience. He thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire. AP/Gregorio Borgia
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Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby, held by his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein, as he arrives in St Peter's Square. He said he had great trust in the Church's future and asked for prayers for cardinals choosing his successor at a time of crisis. Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi
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Faithful wave flags on St Peter's square ahead of Pope Benedict XVI last weekly audience. Benedict will receive the title of "Roman pontiff emeritus" and can still be addressed as "Your Holiness" and wear the white papal cassock after he officially steps down. AFP/Gabriel Bouys
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People crowd St Peter's Square where Pope Benedict XVI gave his last general audience, at the Vatican. Starting next week, cardinals from around the world will begin a series of meetings to consider possible candidates for pope. AP/Dmitry Lovetsky
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Cardinals attend pope's general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. A total of 115 "cardinal electors" are scheduled to take part in the conclave to decide the next head of the Catholic Church. AP/Gregorio Borgia
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Pope Benedict XVI leaves after celebrating his last general audience. Benedict will be whisked off by helicopter to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome after he steps down. AP/Gregorio Borgia
