Crowds cheer for Pope Benedict during his last Sunday address before he steps down this week.

Speaking in Italian, he told Catholics gathered in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City that he was not abandoning the Roman Catholic Church.

Instead, he would continue to follow God's will and concentrate further on prayer and meditation.

Benedict is the first pope to leave his post in 600 years.

Under his reign, the church has been beset by corruption and child sexual abuse scandals.

Many also say the pope lacked the charisma and power to unify of his predecessor Pope John Paul II.

The papacy will become vacant on Thursday evening as cardinals around the world prepare their to elect a new leader from amongst their ranks.