Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims in St Peter's for final time before retiring
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Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby handed up to him by his secretary George Ganswein as he greets pilgrims in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013, for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AP
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A faithful cries during Pope Benedict XVI's general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AP
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A nun waits in Saint Peter's Square before Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience at the Vatican on Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Faithful hold a placard as they take place on St Peter's square ahead of Pope Benedict XVI last weekly audience on Feb 27, 2013, at the Vatican. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A sign with writing in French reading "Thank you" is seen in the crowd attending Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience, at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AP
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Police officers control faithful as they gather in Saint Peter's Square to attend Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience, at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AP
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Pope Benedict XVI waves from his Popemobile as he arrives on St Peter's square for his last weekly audience, on Feb 27, 2013, at the Vatican. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Pope Benedict XVI waves from his Popemobile as he rides through a packed St Peter's Square at the Vatican during his last general audience, on Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A nun is prevented from getting too near the Popemobile as Pope Benedict XVI rides through Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican during his last general audience, on Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Pope Benedict XVI leaves his Popemobile as he arrives on Saint Peter's square for his last weekly audience on February 27, 2013 at the Vatican. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of the square as crowds cheered wildly and stopping to kiss a half-dozen children brought up to him by his secretary. --PHOTO: AP
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Pope Benedict XVI walks to the altar as he arrives on Saint Peter's square for his last weekly audience, on Feb 27, 2013, at the Vatican. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby handed up to him by his secretary George Ganswein as he greets pilgrims in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013, for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AP
A faithful cries during Pope Benedict XVI's general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AP
A nun waits in Saint Peter's Square before Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience at the Vatican on Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
Faithful hold a placard as they take place on St Peter's square ahead of Pope Benedict XVI last weekly audience on Feb 27, 2013, at the Vatican. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
A sign with writing in French reading "Thank you" is seen in the crowd attending Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience, at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AP
Police officers control faithful as they gather in Saint Peter's Square to attend Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience, at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AP
Pope Benedict XVI waves from his Popemobile as he arrives on St Peter's square for his last weekly audience, on Feb 27, 2013, at the Vatican. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pope Benedict XVI waves from his Popemobile as he rides through a packed St Peter's Square at the Vatican during his last general audience, on Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A nun is prevented from getting too near the Popemobile as Pope Benedict XVI rides through Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican during his last general audience, on Feb 27, 2013. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Pope Benedict XVI leaves his Popemobile as he arrives on Saint Peter's square for his last weekly audience on February 27, 2013 at the Vatican. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of the square as crowds cheered wildly and stopping to kiss a half-dozen children brought up to him by his secretary. --PHOTO: AP
Pope Benedict XVI walks to the altar as he arrives on Saint Peter's square for his last weekly audience, on Feb 27, 2013, at the Vatican. Pope Benedict is greeting pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. -- PHOTO: AFP
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI is greeting pilgrims in St. Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell.
Benedict was driven around the square in an open-sided vehicle, surrounded by bodyguards. At one point he stopped to kiss a baby handed up to him by his secretary.
St. Peter's was overflowing and pilgrims and curiosity-seekers were picking spots along the main boulevard nearby to watch Wednesday's event on giant TV screens. Some 50,000 tickets were requested for Benedict's final master class on the Catholic faith, but Italian media estimated the number of people actually attending could be double that.
