Pope Benedict XVI experienced an emotional send-off Wednesday in front of an estimated 150,000 people at his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square; one of those in attendance was St. Thomas junior Brandon Miranda.

Miranda, who is studying abroad in Rome, said the atmosphere and hearing the pope say his last words, recalling moments of “joy and light” during his papacy and also times of difficulty when “it seemed like the Lord was sleeping,” were breathtaking.

“The overall atmosphere at the audience was astounding,” Miranda said. “It is amazing to see all the pushing, shoving, and chair politics going into a papal audience.”

University Relations representatives Mark Brown, Brad Jacobson and Katie Metzger are shooting a documentary about Catholic Studies students studying in Rome this semester and coincidentally were scheduled to film on the Pope’s last day. Metzger said that the pope’s arrival on the PopeMobile calmed the rowdy crowd, to her surprise.

“Given the raucous, almost party-like atmosphere that took place all morning before he got there, I was expecting much more of an emotional response from the crowd when he finally appeared,” Metzger said. “It was almost as if Mass was about to start and people were asked to take their seats. It became very peaceful.”

Benedict enjoyed the occasion, taking a long victory lap around the square in an open-sided car and stopping to kiss and bless half a dozen children handed to him by his secretary.

Seventy cardinals, some tearful, sat in solemn attendance, then gave him a standing ovation at the end of his speech. Benedict made a quick exit, foregoing the typical meet-and-greet session that follows the audience as if to not prolong the goodbye.

Miranda said the experience was more like a cheering section for the pope than a formal audience.

“The entire thing is more like a pep rally rather than a formal lecture,” Miranda said. “There is constant chants and singing that goes on as we all wait for the Holy Father to start the audience. People cheer like no other and especially today.”

Given the historic moment, Benedict also changed course and didn’t produce his typical professorial Wednesday catechism lesson. Rather, he made his final public appearance in St. Peter’s a personal one, explaining once again why he was becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign and urging the faithful to pray for his successor.

“To love the church means also to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself,” Benedict said to thundering applause.

Benedict noted that a pope has no privacy.

“He belongs always and forever to everyone, to the whole church,” Benedict said.

But he promised that in retirement he would not be returning to private life — instead taking on a new experience of service to the church through prayer.

Being able to see Benedict at his final audience increase and other events increased Miranda’s faith “immensely,” but not in the way one might think.

“Before coming to Rome, I had this grand image of the pope that was almost superhuman,” Miranda said. “Now … we have become accustom to seeing the pope regularly. Actually seeing him has deepened my realization that he is a man of flesh and bone just like me. Seeing the humanity of the Holy Father and seeing him again as he kissed babies on his way to the stage today, my faith grows so much more. It makes holiest seem more attainable for the everyday person.”

Jesse Krull, Briggs LeSavage and Anastasia Straley contributed to this report.