Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican February 13, 2013. Cardinals around the world began informal contacts to discuss who should next lead the Church through a period of major crisis and the Vatican said it planned a big send-off for Pope Benedict before he becomes the first pontiff in centuries to resign. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (VATICAN – Tags: RELIGION)