Pope Benedict expresses love, gratitude in a very personal final general audience

On Wednesday, one day before stepping down from the papacy, Pope Benedict XVI held his final general audience in St. Peter's Square with tens of thousands in attendance. He greeted people throughout the square, and, instead of his typical catechesis, Pope Benedict offered a very personal message of love and gratitude.

Pope Benedict waves as he arrives to lead
his final general audience in St. Peter's Square
CNS photo

He reflected on his papacy and once again discussed his decision to abdicate, expressing his deep love for the Church. He also spent time thanking God, the cardinals, Vatican leaders, the clergy and consecrated people, and the Catholic faithful. He noted how closely he holds the faithful in prayer. He encouraged everyone to renew their faith and their trust in God during this Year of Faith. He spoke in awe of the beauty of the deep communion and familial love in the Body of Christ.

Pope Benedict's final message was one that reflected his deep love for the Catholic Church and its people.

From Pope Benedict:

At this point I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to all the many people throughout the whole world, who, in recent weeks have sent me moving tokens of concern, friendship and prayer. Yes, the Pope is never alone: now I experience this [truth] again in a way so great as to touch my very heart. The Pope belongs to everyone, and so many people feel very close to him. It's true that I receive letters from the world's greatest figures – from the Heads of State, religious leaders, representatives of the world of culture and so on. I also receive many letters from ordinary people who write to me simply from their heart and let me feel their affection, which is born of our being together in Christ Jesus, in the Church. These people do not write me as one might write, for example, to a prince or a great figure one does not know. They write as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, with the sense of very affectionate family ties. Here, one can touch what the Church is – not an organization, not an association for religious or humanitarian purposes, but a living body, a community of brothers and sisters in the Body of Jesus Christ, who unites us all. To experience the Church in this way and almost be able to touch with one's hands the power of His truth and His love, is a source of joy, in a time in which many speak of its decline.

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