Pope Benedict XVI bids farewell in last public appearance

More than 50,000 people are expected to gather in St Peter's Square later today for Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience the day before he becomes the first pontiff in 600 years to step down since Pope Gregory XII abdicated in 1415.

Papal audiences are normally held inside a Vatican hall in the winter, however there has been such a lot of interest that the event is being held outdoors. 50,000 tickets have been requested, but as many as 200,000 people may attend and people have even been seen running in order to get a prime spot for this unprecedented event.

The Pope made the shock announcement earlier this month that he no longer had the mental or physical strength to carry on in the role.

The Pope will live out the rest of his days in the new monastery in prayer and meditation and will become known as "pope emeritus".

At exactly 8pm Rome time, the villa gates at Castel Gandolfo will close and the Swiss Guard will withdraw - marking an end to Pope Benedict XVI's papacy. 

On Thursday morning, he will bid farewell to his cardinals who will begin a series of meetings to determine his successor. The date for the conclave - when eligible cardinals vote in secret in the Sistine Chapel - has yet to be announced.

Upon leaving the papacy, he will be referred to as His Holiness, Benedict XVI. He will not wear the ring of Peter and will dress in a simple white cassock.