ABC News announces special coverage of 'The Farewell to Pope Benedict XVI'

This week, ABC News will cover all the pageantry and ceremonial events leading up to the Pope's historic resignation. ABC News will provide extensive coverage on "Good Morning America," "World News with Diane Sawyer," "Nightline," ABC News Radio and its digital platforms as Pope Benedict XVI says farewell in Rome.

On Thursday, Feb. 28, ABC News will broadcast two special reports to the ABC Television Network at approximately 5 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. ET, marking the final events of Pope Benedict's papacy. George Stephanopoulos will anchor from the Vatican. "Nightline" co-anchor Terry Moran, David Wright, Ron Claiborne, Cokie Roberts and ABC News Global Affairs anchor Christiane Amanpour will join Stephanopoulos in Rome. Wright covered the death of Pope John Paul II and the selection of Pope Benedict XVI for ABC News in 2005. Cokie Roberts, whose mother served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, will provide historical perspective throughout ABC's coverage.

Stephanopoulos will co-anchor "Good Morning America" from the Vatican on Wednesday, Feb. 27, and Thursday, Feb. 28. Moran will anchor "Nightline" from Rome on Wednesday and Thursday.

In March, when the cardinal electors convene for the conclave to elect a new pope, Diane Sawyer will lead ABC News' coverage from Rome. More information on ABC's coverage of the conclave will be announced in the coming weeks.

ABC News Digital will provide complete, live-streamed coverage of the farewell to Pope Benedict XVI beginning with the ABC News Special Report at 5 a.m., followed by live coverage of the Pope's departure from the Vatican at approximately 10:45 a.m. Special live stream coverage will be available throughout the day across ABCNews.com, Yahoo! News, GoodMorningAmerica.com, ABC News' iPad and iPhone apps, ABC affiliate websites, ABC News Mobile properties, as well as on the ABC News YouTube channel. Editorial content will include live blog updates, video highlights and interactive slideshows featuring the top cardinal contenders, factoids and embedded 3-D animations of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel.

ABC News Radio will provide extensive coverage of the Pope's resignation anchored by correspondent Aaron Katersky. He will be joined by correspondent Tom Rivers reporting from Rome. ABC News Radio will provide two one-minute status reports each hour from 5 a.m. through 3 p.m. on the resignation on Feb. 28 with the latest updates throughout the day.

ABC NewsOne, the network's affiliate news service, will provide full coverage with live reports from Rome with ABC News correspondent Nick Schifrin for more than 200 ABC affiliates, stations and clients.