(FILES) This recent file picture taken on February 6, 2013 at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican shows Pope Benedict XVI arriving for the weekly general audience. The Vatican spokesman announced that Pope says he will resign on February 28. AFP PHOTO / FILES / VINCENZO PINTO

This recent file picture taken on February 8, 2013 shows Benedict XVI (R) arriving with his secretary Georg Gaenswein for a visit at the Pontificio Seminario Romano Maggiore in Rome. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES/ ANDREAS SOLARO

(FILES) This file picture taken on January 16, 2013 shows Pope Benedict XVI leaving after his general audience in the Paul VI hall at Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / GABRIEL BOUYS

(FILES) This file picture taken and released on January 27, 2013 by the Vatican Press Office shows Pope Benedict XVI waving to the crowd after releasing a dove from the window of his apartment at the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's square at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / OSSERVATORE ROMANO / FRANCESCO SFORZA

(FILES) This file picture taken on January 6, 2013 shows Pope Benedict XVI blessing faithful at the end of the Epiphany mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / VINCENZO PINTO

(FILES) This file picture taken on December 29, 2012, in St.Peter's square at the Vatican shows Pope Benedict XVI saluting as he arrives to the ecumenical christian community of Taize during their European meeting. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

(FILES) This file picture taken on January 20, 2013 Pope Benedict XVI leading the Angelus prayer from the window of his appartments at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / TIZIANA FABI

(FILES) This file picture taken on December 31, 2012 shows Pope Benedict XVI arriving to pray in front of the nativity crib in Saint Peter's Square after celebrating the Vespers and Te Deum prayers in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / ANDREAS SOLARO

(FILES) This file picture taken on December 16, 2012 shows Pope Benedict XVI arriving on for a visit to the San Patrizio al Colle Prenestino parish on the outskirts of Rome. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO/ FILES / Filippo MONTEFORTE

(FILES) This file picture taken on December 16, 2012 shows Pope Benedict XVI arriving on for a visit to the San Patrizio al Colle Prenestino parish on the outskirts of Rome. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO/ FILES / Filippo MONTEFORTE

(FILES) This file picture taken on December 19, 2012 at Paul VI hall at the Vatican shows Pope Benedict XVI arriving for his weekly general audience. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

(FILES) This file picture taken on December 25, 2012 shows Pope Benedict XVI leaving after delivering his traditional Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / VINCENZO PINTO

(FILES) This file picture taken on December 25, 2012 shows Pope Benedict XVI leaving after delivering his traditional Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries. AFP PHOTO / FILES / VINCENZO PINTO

Pope Benedict XVI wipes his forehead during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006. The Pontiff circled St. Peter's Square Wednesday in his open-topped popemobile as he greeted 30,000 faithful, a day after a Turkish airliner's hijacking by a Turk demanding to get a message to the pontiff had ratcheted up concerns about Benedict's pilgrimage to Turkey next month. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)