Pope Benedict XVI stepped down Thursday, and North Andover's St. Michael Parish paid tribute to him by ringing the church bell in his honor for eight minutes in the afternoon.

The Pope announced earlier in February that he would resign effective Feb. 28, for health reasons. This marked the first papal resignation in nearly 700 years.

"He sounds like a man of wisdom," Rev. Bill Donnelly of St. Michael's said of Pope Benedict XVI on the day of the announcement. "As a recognized theologian, his writing seems to have great influence among those who reflect upon theological issues. He's a great theologian."

Cardinal Sean O'Malley asked churches throughout the Archdiocese to "mark this historic moment" by ringing their bells for eight minutes to commemorate the eight years Benedict XVI spent as Pope.