Pope’s Final Audience (Photos)

Pope Benedict XVI (R) leaves the altar with secretary Georg Gaenswein at the end of his last weekly audience on Feb. 27, 2013, at St Peter's Square at the Vatican. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)

Pope Benedict XVI gave his final audience in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City State, starting at 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The Pope will formally abdicate on Thursday, citing health and advancing age as his reasons. 

He said that in his eight years as Pope, he had experienced, “moments of joy and light, but also moments that were not easy.”

“I no longer wield the power of the office for the government of the Church, but in the service of prayer I remain, so to speak, within St. Peter’s bounds,” he said, according to a Vatican transcript of his address. 

Tens of thousands gathered in the square to bid thanks and farewell.