Pope Benedict XVI held his last private audience with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the Vatican on Saturday as the church gears up for his final blessing before he retires. (Feb. 23)

SHOTLIST:

AP - AP Clients Only

Vatican City - Feb. 23, 2013

1. Wide of Pope meeting with Italian president

2. Wide of construction

3. Wide of cameras

4. Wide of Vatican City

VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:

Pope Benedict has held his last private audience as leader of the Catholic Church.

The pontiff is stepping down at the end of the month.

Saturday he spent some time with Italy's president where the pope offered his best wishes for the Italian people during the upcoming conclave to select his successor.

Meantime the Vatican itself is gearing up for an expected crush of people to come witness Benedict's last blessing before he retires and as well as those coming to see the picking of the next pope.

Included in all this work are some two thousand security cameras that are being put in place as well as a number of small tent hospitals that are being put in different locations.

SIGOUT - Name/Associated Press