Pope Benedict, speaking in his last Sunday Angelus before his resignation on Thursday, said today he was following God's wishes and that he was not abandoning the Roman Catholic Church.

The Pope, addressing tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, also said he would continue to serve and love the Church by praying and meditating after his historic abdication. He said God had called him "to climb the mountain".

The Pope will hold his last public audience on Wednesday.

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