Pope Benedict XVI's departure

People say prayers for Pope Benedict XVI in the moments before he ceased to be pontiff on Feb. 28, 2013 in Vatican City. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first pope to retire since 1415.

Pope Benedict XVI leaves a balcony after giving his final blessing to the faithful in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, on Thursday, Feb. 28. Benedict officially steps down at 8 pm local time (1900 GMT) on Feb. 28. The end of his papacy will be marked by the closure of the gates to the palace of Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence on the outskirts of Rome where he will live temporarily.

A nun waves her handkerchief from a window as Pope Benedict XVI makes his final address at Castel Gandolfo, on Thursday. Pope Benedict slips quietly from the world stage on Thursday after a private last goodbye to his cardinals and a short flight to a country palace to enter the final phase of his life "hidden from the world."

People react near a giant screen showing the departure of Pope Benedict XVI from the Vatican City, on Thursday.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful for the last time from the balcony of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo Thursday.

A group of nuns in St. Peter's Square watch a screen showing Pope Benedict XVI greeting the faithful at the papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo, in Vatican City, on Thursday.

A helicopter carrying Pope Benedict XVI passes St Peter's Basilica as he leaves Vatican City on Thursday in Rome, Italy.

Pope Benedict XVI deliveres his final greetings to the assembly of cardinals at the Vatican on Feb. 28, before he retires in just a few hours. Benedict urged the cardinals to work in unity and promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor in his final words to his cardinals.

Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience on Wednesday in Vatican City, Vatican.

Night falls over Vatican City on Wednesday in Rome, Italy.

Pope Benedict XVI leaves after celebrating his last general audience, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, on Wednesday.

Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela (third from left) reacts while attending the last general audience of Pope Benedict XVI in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Wednesday.

Pope Benedict XVI holds his last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, on Wednesday.

Pope Benedict XVI addresses the crowd in St Peter's Square on Wednesday in Vatican City, Vatican.

A nun waves as she waits in the crowd for the arrival of Pope Benedict XV in St Peter's Square on Wednesday in Vatican City, Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his final general audience on Wednesday in Vatican City, Vatican.

A sign reading "thanks" in Italian is held in St Peter's Square as Pope Benedict XVI holds his last general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses faithful before leaving the altar at the end of his last weekly audience on Wednesday, at St Peter's square at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI travels through the crowd in the popemobile in St Peter's Square on Wednesday, in Vatican City, Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child as he arrives in St Peter's Square for his final general audience on Wednesday, in Vatican City, Vatican.

A woman uses an iPad during the ceremony of Pope Benedict XV in St Peter's Square on Wednesday, in Vatican City, Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful after holding his last general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.

The right hand of Pope Benedict XVI wearing the Ring of the Fisherman, named after Saint Peter who was a fisherman, waves after his final weekly Wednesday General Audience of his tenure at St. Peter's Square, Vatican.

Nuns attend Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, on Wednesday.

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives on St Peter's Square at the Vatican for his last weekly audience on Feb. 27, 2013, the eve of his historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

Nuns from Brazil wait for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI at St Peter's Square on Wednesday. The weekly event would normally be held in a vast auditorium in winter, but was moved outdoors so that more people could attend.

Pope Benedict XVI waves from the altar as he arrives in St Peter's Square on Wednesday.

The faithful fill St Peter's Square ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience on Wednesday.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful after arriving in St Peter's Square on Wednesday.

Members of the crowd hold a placard reading "Pope Benedict XVI, Pope again" as they take their places on St Peter's Square on Wednesday.

An aide passes a newborn baby to Pope Benedict XVI for a papal blessing and kiss as the Popemobile transports the Pontiff through the crowd in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday.

Faithful attend Pope Benedict XVI's last weekly audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday.

Pope Benedict XVI waves from the altar during his last weekly audience on Wednesday.