POPE BENEDICT XVI called on the church and its faithful today to “renew themselves” as tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists attended his penultimate Angelus prayers.

“The church calls on all its members to renew themselves… which constitutes a fight, a spiritual battle, because the evil spirit wants us to deviate from the road towards God,” he told the crowds from his window overlooking St Peter’s Square.

Families with young children, pensioners and nuns packed into the square in the sunshine said they had come to pay their respects to the pope, make their goodbyes or share in a historic event ahead of the 85-year old’s resignation.

Groups of scouts held up banners reading “We have loved you so much!” and “We will be with you… always” and said they wanted to show Benedict that his shock decision to stand down on February 28 had not shaken their faith in him.

“He has done it for the good of the church, and will keep serving us. He is retiring to pray – and God knows we need his prayers,” said Germana Blaiotta.

Viva il papa

A serene-looking Benedict waved to the crowds and thanked them for turning out in such large numbers, calling it a “sign of affection and spiritual closeness”, as the onlookers called out “viva il papa” (long live the pope).

Benedict’s brother said in an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC published today that the pontiff was seeking greater tranquility with his retirement.

“He no longer has strength. He is going through the natural process of aging, as am I. My brother wants more tranquility for his old age. With the advance of his age, his strength is declining,” Georg Ratzinger, 89, said.

The Vatican said over 50,000 people had turned out to see the pope for his Sunday Angelus, while local authorities put the number at over 100,000.

Benedict, whose surpise announcement last Monday that he would step down after eight years rocked the church, called on the world’s faithful to “refocus on God by disowning pride and egoism”.

His words were seem by some as a veiled reference to internal bickering within the church in recent months, as well as the jostle for power as cardinals from all over the world prepare to vote in his successor.

“Benedict did everything for the church, he was always in the limelight but they did nothing but criticise him and try and undermine him. Whoever follows him will have to have strong nerves,” said Margherita Yager, 61, from Germany.

Christine Renier, a 48-year-old teacher from Paris, said she was in Rome on holiday and had wanted to see the pontiff before he retires to a secluded monastery behind the Vatican walls for a life of contemplation.

Losing faith

“It is a sad day, but I think Benedict was actually too rigid and lost many faithful among the young. I’m hoping for a pope who can throw out the bureaucracy and get back to the church’s roots, perhaps an African,” she said.

Amid speculation over which of the 117 cardinals in the running might snap up the Vatican’s top job, Italian media said Cardinal Angelo Scola, the Archbishop of Milan, was among the favourites backed by Benedict.

After meeting the pope Saturday, Scola said Benedict had told him “you have to become a light for everyone”, a phrase pounced on by the media as a clue.

“Significant words which will be weighed by everyone,” said the Repubblica, while La Stampa agreed they were “meaningful words”.

At St Peter’s Square, tourists snapping souvenir photographs of Benedict on their smart phones said he may have revolutionised the papacy.

“This is a moment which will go down in history. He’s opened the door to future resignations and I cannot see anyone suffering through an old age as pope again. From now on they’ll retire,” said Michele Agostino, 66.

Later today, the pontiff will start a week-long spiritual retreat and have only very few public engagements before he formally steps down – the first pope to resign because he simply cannot go on in 700 years.

Benedict will receive Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on 23 February, celebrate his last Angelus prayer on 24 February and hold a final audience in St Peter’s Square with tens of thousands of followers on 27 February.

- © AFP 2013.