THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: VATICAN CITY—Pope Benedict XVI held the final audience of his pontificate before a sea of spectators in Saint Peter's Square on Wednesday, a farewell he said would not mark the end of his life in public.
Addressing the crowd, Pope Benedict, 85 years old, said he had "suffered" over his decision to relinquish control of Roman Catholicism's one billion followers as of Thursday evening, adding that his resignation was in the best interest of the Church.
Though he plans to retire to a life of study and prayer once he steps down, the pontiff told the crowd on Wednesday there was no going back to his pre-papal life, noting that his election eight years ago marked the end of "all privacy."
"There is no return to the private. My decision to renounce the active exercise of ministry doesn't revoke this. I'm not returning to a private life," Pope Benedict said, addressing the square, which thronged with banners from around the world. "I'm not abandoning the cross, but remaining in a new way beside the crucified Lord," he said. » | Stacy Meichtry | Wednesday, February 27, 2013
