The Catholic Church's cardinals on Thursday thanked Benedict XVI for his leadership, in their last meeting with he German-born pontiff before his resignation.
"Loved and venerable successor of Peter, it is us who thank you for the example that you have given us in these eight years," said Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Dean of the College of Cardinals and a former Vatican secretary of state.
"Holy Father, with deep love we always tried to accompany you along your path," Sodano said. "All together, we repeat an expression from your beloved home country, 'Vergelt's Gott': May God reward you."