February 27, 2013 - Pope Benedict XVI held the last general audience of his pontificate
in the Vatican on Wednesday, the eve of his final day as the head of the worldwide
Catholic Church. An estimated 150,000 pilgrims and well-wishers who thronged St.
Peter’s Square, the venue of the audience, frequently encouraged the Pope with resounding
cheers. As declared by Pope Benedict himself on Feb. 11, he will cease to be the
head of the Catholic Church at 8 pm Rome time (7.00 pm UTC), Thursday, Feb. 28. The
general audience began with aides reading a passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the
Colossians in several languages. Pope Benedict then delivered his main catechesis
in Italian. Visibly moved by the massive show of solidarity, Pope Benedict XVI gratefully
acknowledged the closeness of the people. “I thank you for coming in large numbers
for this last general audience of my Pontificate,” the Pope said to a resounding applause
from the crowd. Pope Benedict said he thanked God for these years of his Petrine
ministry when he could receive the "news" about the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love that circulates in the body of the Church making it live in love, and
hope that opens and directs us towards the fullness of life, towards the heavenly
abode. At this moment, the Pope said, “there is great confidence in me, because I
know, and all of us know, that the word of truth of the Gospel is the power of the
Church, its life.” “The Gospel purifies and renews, bears fruit, wherever the community
of believers hears it and receives the grace of God in truth and lives in charity.
This is my belief, this is my joy.” Pope Benedict then recalled the day he was
elected to the papacy nearly 8 years ago on April 19, 2005, when he agreed to take
on the Petrine ministry. He said he had this firm belief that has always accompanied
him. “At that moment, as I have already stated several times, the words that resounded
in my heart were: Lord, what do you ask of me? It is a great weight that you are
placing on my shoulders; but if You are asking it of me, on your word I will cast
my nets, assured You will lead me.” The Pope admitted that the Lord has truly led
him, He was near, and he could feel His presence each day. He said his nearly 8-year
pontificate was a phase of the Church’s journey that had moments of joy and light,
but also difficult times. He said he felt like St. Peter and the Apostles in the
boat on the Sea of Galilee. “The Lord has granted us many days of sunshine and
gentle breeze, days when the catches were abundant; but there have also been moments
of turbulent seas and rough winds, as has been throughout the history of the Church
when the Lord seems sleeping.” But, the Pope said, he always knew that the Lord
was in that boat, and that the boat of the Church was not his or ours, but the Lord’s
and He will not allow it to sink. “For it is He who leads, surely also through men
He has chosen, as he wanted.” He said he was filled with gratitude to God for never
denying his consolation, his light and his love to the whole Church as well as to
him. He invited all to renew their firm trust in the Lord in this current Year of
Faith, to confide in Him like children in the arms of God, confident that those arms
will sustain them always and will help them walk each day also in difficulties, even
in present times when faith seems to be pushed to the background. Pope Benedict
thanked his collaborators, saying “even though the boat of Peter is the Pope’s main
responsibility, he is not alone in this task.” He turned to the numerous cardinals
present at the audience and thanked them for their wisdom, advice and friendship.
He particularly mentioned his closest collaborator, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, the entire Roman Curia and those who work in various sectors of
the Holy See. He observed there are many hidden faces who in silence and daily dedication
have given him sure and reliable support, in a spirit of faith and humility. At
Pope Benedict’s last general audience Wednesday, were a large number of faithful from
Rome Diocese, of which the Pope is the Bishop. The Pope thanked the bishops, the
clergy, the religious and the faithful of his diocese. He also thanked the great
family of nations of the entire world represented by the Diplomatic Corps accredited
to the Holy See. Pope Benedict specially recalled the ordinary simple people
who wrote to him speaking to him from their hearts and touching him with their affection,
which, he said, is born of being together in Christ Jesus in the Church. He said
these persons wrote to him like a brother or sister, sons and daughters in a family.
“Experiencing the Church this way and being able to almost touch with your hands the
power of her truth and her love is a source of joy, at a time where many talk about
the Church’s decline,” the Pope said. Referring to his resignation, the 85-year
old Pontiff explained that in recent months he felt his strength diminishing and prayed
earnestly to God to enlighten him with His light to make him take the right decision,
not for his personal good but for the good of the Church. He said he took the step
fully aware of its seriousness as well as its novelty, but with deep peace of mind.
“To love the church means also to have the courage to take difficult, painful
decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself,'' Pope Benedict
said to a thunderous applause. He explained that his decision to renounce the Petrine
ministry does not mean abandoning the cross, rather it means remaining with the Crucified
Lord in a new way in the service of prayer. The Pope thanked all for respecting and
understanding this his important decision. He urged all to remember him before God,
but especially urged them to pray for the cardinals who will be electing the new Pope.
God guides his Church, he sustains her always, even and specially in difficult moments.
Let us never lose this vision of faith which is the only true vision in the journey
of the Church and the world, the Pope added. At Pope Benedict’s last general audience
on Wednesday, various language groups expressed their affection and gratitude to him
for the last time. Pope Benedict XVI, also delivered summaries of his catechesis
in several languages, including in English.
Listen: Dear
Brothers and Sisters, I offer a warm and affectionate greeting to the English-speaking
pilgrims and visitors who have joined me for this, my last General Audience. Like
Saint Paul, whose words we heard earlier, my heart is filled with thanksgiving to
God who ever watches over his Church and her growth in faith and love, and I embrace
all of you with joy and gratitude. During this Year of Faith, we have
been called to renew our joyful trust in the Lord’s presence in our lives and in the
life of the Church. I am personally grateful for his unfailing love and guidance
in the eight years since I accepted his call to serve as the Successor of Peter.
I am also deeply grateful for the understanding, support and prayers of so many of
you, not only here in Rome, but also throughout the world. The decision
I have made, after much prayer, is the fruit of a serene trust in God’s will and a
deep love of Christ’s Church. I will continue to accompany the Church with my prayers,
and I ask each of you to pray for me and for the new Pope. In union with Mary and
all the saints, let us entrust ourselves in faith and hope to God, who continues to
watch over our lives and to guide the journey of the Church and our world along the
paths of history. I commend all of you, with great affection, to his loving
care, asking him to strengthen you in the hope which opens our hearts to the fullness
of life that he alone can give. To you and your families, I impart my blessing.
Thank you!