VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Benedict made several rounds of St. Peter’s Square in a triumphant farewell as crowds cheered wildly for the retiring pontiff.

Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying “Grazie!” – “thank you” in Italian – jammed the piazza for the pope’s final general audience – the appointment he has kept each week to teach the world about the Catholic faith.

Benedict is the first pope in 600 years to resign.