Pope notes times that were "not easy" during his papacy

Vatican City - Benedict XVI spoke Wednesday about the high and lows of his near eight-year papacy, in his last public audience on the eve of his resignation.

His time as leader of the Catholic Church "had moments of joy and light, but also moments that were not easy," Benedict said.

He compared the Church to the ship that carried Saint Peter and the Apostles over the Sea of Galilee.

"The Lord gave us many days of sun and gentle breeze, days in which we caught many fish; there were also times in which we had stormy seas and a contrary wind, like it has been throughout the history of the Church, when the Lord seemed to be sleeping," he said.//DPA