Pope Benedict XVI delivers his last blessing from the window of the pontiff's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AP / L'Osservatore Romano

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Pope Benedict XVI delivers a speech to cardinals in the Vatican's ornate Clementine Hall at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI vowed "unconditional obedience" to his successor on his historic final day as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, when he will become the first pontiff to resign since the Middle Ages.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AFP / Getty Images

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''Among you is the future pope, to whom I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience,'' Benedict said in a speech to cardinals in the Vatican's ornate Clementine Hall at the Vatican.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANSA / MCT

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A nun walks past posters of Pope Benedict XVI reading in Italian, " You will stay always with us. Thank you" along a street in Rome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press

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Young women from Spain dance in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI will leave the Apostolic palace inside the Vatican for the last time as pontiff, head to the helipad at the top of the hill in the Vatican gardens and fly to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Dmitry Lovetsky / Associated Press

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People wait for takeoff of the helicopter which will take Pope Benedict XVI to Castel Gandolfo in Rome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press

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Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candlelight vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience at the Vatican.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Oli Scarff / Getty Images

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Assistants prepare the balcony where Pope Benedict XVI will salute faithful upon his arrival in Castel Gandolfo.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VINCENZO PINTO / AFP / Getty Images

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Night falls over Vatican City, where the pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Oli Scarff / Getty Images

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Pilgrims participate in a candlelight vigil in Saint Peter's Square.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Oli Scarff / Getty Images

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St. Peter's Square is filled for Pope Benedict XVI's last weekly audience before his retirement.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

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Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowds at St. Peter's Square as he begins his final weekly audience with a tour around the square in his Popemobile.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Michael Kappeler / McClatchy Tribune

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Faithful wave flags ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's last weekly audience at the Vatican.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AFP / Getty Images

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Cardinal Roger Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles, attends Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience in St. Peter's Square.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Franco Origlia / Getty Images

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A Swiss guardsman stands in St. Peter's Square as Pope Benedict XVI holds his final general audience before his retirement.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

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Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful at the end of his final weekly audience.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP / Getty Images

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Nuns gather during Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Oded Balilty / Associated Press

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Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he leaves St Peter's Square at the end of his final general audience at the Vatican.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Franco Origlia / Getty Images

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Men observe St Peter's Square before Pope Benedict XVI's final weekly public audience at the Vatican.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Oli Scarff / Getty Images

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Nuns attend Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience in St. Peter's Square.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Franco Origlia / Getty Images

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A large video screen shows Pope Benedict XVI making his final remarks at St. Peter's Square.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MASSIMO PERCOSSI / EPA

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A pilgrim prays as he attends Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience in St Peter's Square before his retirement at the Vatican.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

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Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child as he arrives in St Peter's Square for his final general audience before stepping down Thursday..

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Franco Origlia / Getty Images

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A pilgrim attends Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience in St Peter's Square before his retirement.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

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Pope Benedict XVI steps away from the papal throne after holding his last general audience Wednesday at St. Peter's Square.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press

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