Pope Benedict XVI is to meet Thursday with parish priests from the diocese of Rome, in a one-hour meeting in which he is expected to speak about his decision to resign.
The pontiff said Monday he would quit his position as of 8 pm (1900 GMT) on February 28. It was the first papal resignation in almost 600 years, stunning Catholics worldwide.
"I did this in full liberty for the good of the church, after praying for long and examining my conscience before God, fully aware of the gravity of such an act," Benedict said Wednesday.
Benedict's last scheduled public appearance as pontiff is on February 27, when he presides over his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square.