Pope Benedict indicated on Thursday, Feb 14, he would withdraw into isolation, away from public sight after his resignation at the end of the month.

"Even if I am withdrawing into prayer, I will always be close to all of you and I am sure that you will be close to me, even if I remain hidden to the world," he said in unscripted remarks to priests from the diocese of Rome, in his capacity as bishop of the Italian capital, Reuters reported.