HIDDEN FROM WORLD Members of the public and the media wait for Vatican Swiss guards to close the main door of the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Benedict XVI greeted the faithful for the last time as pope on Thursday, telling tearful well-wishers that he is beginning the final stage of his life as 鈥渟imply a pilgrim,鈥� hours before he becomes the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. AP/ALESSANDRA TARANTINO
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy鈥擯ope Benedict XVI鈥檚 final goodbye before he retires was met with tears and applause in the tiny hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo near Rome Thursday, where thousands had gathered to hear his emotional last words.
鈥淭hank you, thank you for your friendship,鈥� the 85-year old pontiff said as he stepped out onto a balcony of the papal residence here, smiling widely and holding out his arms to the crowd of flag-waving families, priests and pilgrims, who cheered wildly and chanted 鈥淏e-ne-detto!鈥�
Cathedral bells rang out to announce the arrival of the soon-to-be former pope, as local residents crowded onto balconies and rooftops surrounding the square of this mediaeval town, which has a bond with the papacy going back centuries, where locals have grown to know and love Benedict.
After waiting for hours in the chill wind, chanting Hail Marys and huddling together for warmth, the crowd gazed eagerly up into the sky to catch a glimpse of the papal helicopter arriving from the Vatican, which Benedict left just minutes earlier for the last time as pope.
鈥淚t was all over so soon. What a joy to see him, but how sad to think it is for the last time,鈥� said Giuseppina, a 23-year-old local waitress, wiping away a tear.
Others could be seen tearing up as the pontiff told the crowd he was soon to be just 鈥渁 simple pilgrim鈥� like them, before blessing them and retiring into the palace, and out of sight from the world.
鈥淚t means a huge amount to us that Benedict has chosen to say his final goodbyes here, it鈥檚 a very emotional day,鈥� said Patrizia Gasperini, 40, standing next to the imposing wooden doors of the papal palace that will close at 1900 GMT, indicating the end of Benedict鈥檚 reign.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been privileged to see a different, more humane side to him over the years, and grown to love him,鈥� she said, adding that she had named her eight-year-old daughter Benedetta in honor of the pope.
鈥淭hank you Benedict, we are all with you!鈥� read huge inflatable silver letters strung next to the small parish church, where parish priest Pietro Diletti spoke of the pope he had befriended.
鈥淚鈥檝e met the pope many times, we鈥檝e eaten together, we鈥檝e joked together, and it鈥檚 an immense gesture of friendship on his part that he has chosen us for his last goodbye,鈥� said Diletti.
Benedict celebrated a Mass every year during his eight-year pontificate in Diletti鈥檚 small parish church of San Tommaso di Villanova.
鈥淓verything I thought I knew about him changed when I first met him. He would cry out, 鈥極h, here is our dear parish priest!鈥� and once I cheekily replied: 鈥楬ere is my dear parishioner, who doesn鈥檛 always attend my services!'鈥� Diletti said.
Local residents prepared for a torch-lit procession later on Thursday to mark the actual moment Benedict鈥檚 pontificate ends.
鈥淏enedict鈥檚 been such a big part of our lives, we want to make him an honorary citizen of Castel Gandolfo,鈥� said local mayor Milva Monachesi.
鈥淗e has said he will be invisible to the world, but we鈥檙e hoping one day鈥攚hen all the commotion has died away鈥攚e can throw a party for him in the square, and he will sit down and eat with us.鈥�
Benedict will spend the first two months of his retirement here in the papal summer residence perched high on a rocky outcrop with views of a lake and the sea, before withdrawing to a monastery within the grounds of the Vatican.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a place he鈥檚 come to love, an oasis of calm,鈥� Monachesi said, pointing to Benedict鈥檚 phrase immortalized in a plaque on the town hall opposite the palace.
It reads: 鈥淗ere I find everything: a mountain, a lake, I even see the sea鈥� and good people.鈥�