Pope Benedict's final Angelus blessing

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Pope Benedict gave his final blessing Sunday in Vatican City. He told the crowd of about 100,000 that he was not abandoning the church and would enter a life of prayer.
- [Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images]
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Pope Benedict XVI leads his last Angelus prayer from the window of his apartments on Feb. 24, 2013 in Vatican City.
- [Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images]
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People gather during Pope Benedict XVI's last Sunday prayer at St Peter's Square in Vatican City on Feb. 24, 2013.
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A nun takes a photo in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 24, 2013, in Vatican City.
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A child looks through binoculars in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 24, 2013 in Vatican City.
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Two people hold a banner with the slogan "Holy Father we love you" on Feb. 24, 2013 in Vatican City.
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People wave as they gather to watch Pope Benedict XVI deliver his last Angelus Blessing on Feb. 24, 2013 in Vatican City.
- [Carsten Koall/Getty Images]
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A nun walks through St. Peters Square on Feb. 24, 2013 in Vatican City..
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A priest plays a guitar on Feb. 24, 2013 in Vatican City.
- [Carsten Koall/Getty Images]
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A woman attends Pope Benedict XVI's last Angelus Blessing on Feb. 24, 2013 in Vatican City.
- [Carsten Koall/Getty Images]

Benedict told the crowd of about 100,000 people that he was not abandoning the church and would enter a life of prayer.

The 85-year-old pope is retiring this month, the first pontiff to do so in almost 600 years.

Bendict told the crowd: "The Lord is calling me to go on top of the hill, to dedicate myself once more to prayer and meditation."

"But this does not mean to abandon the church."