Pell critical of Pope as he bids farewell

Updated March 19 2013 - 3:17pm, first published February 28 2013 - 10:36am
Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Nuns wait in the crowd for the arrival of Pope Benedict XV in St Peter's Square in Vatican City. Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images
Nuns wait in the crowd for the arrival of Pope Benedict XV in St Peter's Square in Vatican City. Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images
Posters wish Pope Benedict XVI farewell after giving his final general audience in St Peter's Square before his retirement in Vatican City. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Posters wish Pope Benedict XVI farewell after giving his final general audience in St Peter's Square before his retirement in Vatican City. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Squareduring his final general audience in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Squareduring his final general audience in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his final general audience in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his final general audience in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child lifted up by the Pontiff's personal secretary Georg Ganswein, as he leaves St. Peter's Square at the end of his final general audience in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child lifted up by the Pontiff's personal secretary Georg Ganswein, as he leaves St. Peter's Square at the end of his final general audience in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI flanked by his personal secretary Georg Ganswein, attends his final general audience in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI flanked by his personal secretary Georg Ganswein, attends his final general audience in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Nuns wait in the crowd for the arrival of Pope Benedict XV in St Peter's Square in Vatican City. Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images
Nuns wait in the crowd for the arrival of Pope Benedict XV in St Peter's Square in Vatican City. Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images
Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Squareduring his final general audience in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Squareduring his final general audience in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images

ROME: A frail Pope Benedict made his public farewell to the world's Catholics on Wednesday morning, hours after one of his closest allies - Sydney Archbishop George Pell - criticised his decision to resign and said the church needed a stronger leader.

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