On Wednesday, over 150,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Benedict XVI‘s final speech. “Thank you, I am very moved,” he said to the cheering crowd. He is the first Pope to step down in almost six centuries.
“There were moments of joy and light but also moments that were not easy … there were moments, as there were throughout the history of the Church, when the seas were rough and the wind blew against us..,” he said. All speculations as to why the Pope resigned were put aside. His words were filled with high hopes for the Church’s future. “I took this step in full awareness of its gravity and novelty but with profound serenity of spirit — I will continue to accompany the Church with prayer and reflection.”
