Pontiff recalls ‘moments of joy and light’ in farewell

Pope Benedict bid an emotional farewell Wednesday to his flock on the eve of his retirement, recalling in his final speech as pontiff moments of “joy and light” during his papacy but also times of difficulty when “it seemed like the Lord was sleeping.”

An estimated 150,000 people flooded St. Peter’s Square for Benedict’s last general audience, eager to show their support and bear witness to the final hours of a papacy that will go down in history as the first one in 600 years to end in resignation rather than death.

Benedict clearly enjoyed the occasion, taking a long victory lap around the square in an open-sided car and stopping to kiss and bless half a dozen babies and infants handed to him by his secretary. Seventy cardinals, some tearful, sat in solemn attendance — then gave him a standing ovation at the end of his speech.

Benedict then made a quick exit, forgoing the typical meetand-greet session that follows the audience as if to not prolong the goodbye.

Given the historic moment, Benedict also eschewed his typical professorial Wednesday catechism lesson and instead gave a personal, heartfelt final address, explaining once again why he was retiring but assuring his flock of 1.2 billion that he was not abandoning them.

During his eight years as Pope, Benedict said he had had “moments of joy and light, but also moments that haven’t been easy ... moments of turbulent seas and rough winds, as has occurred in the history of the church when it seemed like the Lord was sleeping.”