Benedict: Pray for me and my successor

Pope Benedict, speaking before a larger than usual crowd at his penultimate Sunday address, asked the faithful to pray for him and for the next pope.

The crowd in St Peter’s Square chanted “Long live the Pope,” waved banners and broke into sustained applause as he spoke from his window. Benedict, 85, who will resign on Feb 28, thanked the crowd in several languages.

The Vatican estimated the crowd at more than 50,000 people, larger than the size which turns out at a normal Sunday address not linked to a specific liturgical feast.