CNN News:教皇本笃十六世宣布退位 新教皇或在近期产生

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It's Thursday, February 28, and it's Pope Benedict the XVI's last day as Pope.

He announced his resignation earlier this month and his time as Pope officially ends this evening.

The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic church, Christianity is the world's largest religion and Catholics are the largest group of Christians.

There are around 1.2 billion Catholics around the world.

Yesterday, Pope Benedict made his final public speech in St.Peter's Square.

That's part of Vatican city, the headquarters of the Catholic church and the world's smallest country.

In yesterday's speech, the Pope talked about his spiritual journey during his nearly eight years as head of the church.

There's been controversies and scandals surrounding the Catholic church, like accusations of some priests abusing children and claims of corruption.

Some analysts think the Pope was referring to these issues during his speech.

"He spoke about how he had so much joy, he said in the church and in his eight years of reign,

but he also talked about how that it'd been difficult times,

he said it had been far from easy on occasion, he talked about how the church had come across agitated waters,

and sometimes found itself of facing the different directions of the winds."

Pope Benedict is the first Pope in nearly 600 years to resign.

What comes next?

He'll still be called Benedict, the name he chose when he became Pope.

He'll still be referred to as "His Holiness", but his official title will be Pope Emeritus.

He'll live in Vatican city in a small monastery and Benedict is expected to devote his time to prayer and study.

As for the Roman Catholic church, it has to elect a new Pope.

And here is how that process happens.

"The Pope is the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics around the world and the most visible religious leader of any kind on the planet."

The new Pope is always chosen by the members of College of Cardinals.

They are the highest office in the church under the Pope himself.

Normally, when a papacy ends, either through death or resignation, cardinals from around the world gathered in the Rome, they had daily meetings to talk about the issues facing the church and the qualities the new Pope needs.

We're talking about slightly over 100 cardinals who file into the Sistine Chapel cast ballots and pick a Pope.