Pope Benedict XVI will be 'Pontiff emeritus' or 'Pope emeritus' after his resignation, the Vatican has said.

The announcement was made by Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, who said the Pope would be addressed as 'His Holiness, Benedict XVI'. He will wear a white cassock but not the cape or trademark red shoes.

More than 50,000 tickets have been requested for the Pope's final general audience in St Peter's Square tomorrow.

The Pope will travel around the square in his Popemobile and following the general audience, will go to the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Palace.

There, he will meet dignitaries, including the Presidents of Slovakia and the German region of Bavaria.

On the final day of his pontificate on Thursday, the Pope will return to the Clementine Hall to meet with cardinals.

He will then be taken to his summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, where he will be received by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello and Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca, respectively president and secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State, along with Bishop Marcello Semeraro of the Diocese of Albano.

Fr Lombardi also confirmed that the College of Cardinals will meet next week to discuss a date for the conclave to elect the Pope's successor.