VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI bid an emotional farewell Wednesday on the eve of his retirement, recalling moments of "joy and light" during his papacy, but also times of difficulty when "it seemed like the Lord was sleeping."
Some 150,000 people, many waving banners proclaiming "Grazie!" flooded St. Peter's Square, eager to bear witness to the final hours of a papacy that will go down in history as the first in 600 years to end in resignation rather than death.
Benedict basked in the emotional send-off, taking a long victory lap around the square in an open-sided car, and stopping to kiss and bless half a dozen babies. Seventy cardinals, some tearful, sat in solemn attendance -- and gave him a standing ovation at the end of his speech.
Benedict then made a quick exit, forgoing the meet-and-greet session that typically follows his weekly general audience, as if to not prolong the goodbye.
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Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims at the end of his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional sendoff Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peter's Square, recalling moments of "joy and light" during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire. AP / Gregorio Borgia
The full moon is seen above the St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, early Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI has changed the rules of the conclave that will elect his successor, allowing cardinals to move up the start date if all of them arrive in Rome before the usual 15-day transition between pontificates. Benedict signed a legal document, issued Monday, with some line-by-line changes to the 1996 Vatican law governing the election of a new pope. It is one of his last acts as pope before resigning Thursday. AP / Dmitry Lovetsky
Faithful gather during Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Oded Balilty
Faithful wait under a large banner for the start of Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Oded Balilty
Faithful keep themselves warm as they gather for Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Oded Balilty
Nuns attend Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Oded Balilty
Faithful gather for Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Oded Balilty
Faithful gather for Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Oded Balilty
Faithful gather for Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Oded Balilty
A view of the crowd in St. Peter's Square during Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Andrew Medichini
Police officers control faithful as they gather in St. Peter's Square to attend Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Andrew Medichini
Pope Benedict XVI is driven through the crowd in his pope-mobile as he arrives to celebrate his last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Andrew Medichini
Pope Benedict XVI waves to tens of thousands of pilgrims and well-wishers as the Popemobile transports him through St. Peter's Square ahead of his final general audience Wednesday, February 27, 2013, the eve of his retirement as leader of the world's Roman Catholics at St. Peter's Square, Vatican City. MCT / Michael Kappeler/ DPA
Pope Benedict XVI, white figure sitting in the center of the stage, attends his last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Andrew Medichini
Pope Benedict XVI is seen on a giant screen during his last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Andrew Medichini
Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during his final general audience in St.Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Gregorio Borgia
Cardinals applaud during Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Gregorio Borgia
A man cries during Pope Benedict XVI's general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Gregorio Borgia
A view of the crowd in St. Peter's Square during Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Andrew Medichini
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims at the end of his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Luca Bruno
Pope Benedict XVI waves from his pope-mobile as he is driven through the crowd during his last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Dmitry Lovetsky
Pope Benedict XVI waves from his pope-mobile as he is driven through the crowd during his last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Dmitry Lovetsky
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. AP / Gregorio Borgia
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims at the end of his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Luca Bruno
Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims at the end of his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Luca Bruno
Pope Benedict XVI holds a baby during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Gregorio Borgia
Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby handed up to him by his secretary George Ganswein as he greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. AP / Luca Bruno
Pope Benedict XVI waves from his pope-mobile as he is driven through the crowd during his last general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. AP / Dmitry Lovetsky
Pope Benedict XVI is driven through the crowd as he greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 for the final time before retiring, waving to tens of thousands of people who have gathered to bid him farewell. AP / Luca Bruno
In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, faithful leave St. Peter's Square after Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI has recalled moments of "joy and light" during his papacy but also times of great difficulty in an emotional, final general audience in St. Peter's Square before retiring. Benedict thanked his cardinals, colleagues and ordinary faithful for their support and for respecting his decision to become the first pope in 600 years to resign. AP / Dmitry Lovetsky
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