NBC News Announces Special Coverage of POPE BENEDICT XVI'S FAREWELL

NBC News, America's leading news organization, will provide in-depth extensive coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's final day as pope across all broadcast and digital platforms. To capture this historic moment, Savannah Guthrie will be live from Rome and will report at 5:01am ET, 6:01am ET and then she will join Matt Lauer who will be live from New York, for a special 45 minute special beginning at 10:45am ET. Pope Benedict XVI's final farewell will be streamed live on NBCNews.com.

NBC News' anchors and correspondents, including Richard Engel, Ann Thompson, Claudio Lavanga and NBC News Vatican Consultant George Weigel, have been on the ground covering Pope Benedict XVI's final days as pope since he surprised the world on February 11th with his decision to resign.

After Pope Benedict XVI is flown by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo, where he will be known as His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman pontiff emeritus, NBC News will continue to provide extensive coverage as the Cardinals set a date for the conclave in which a new pope will be elected. Additional details to follow.