"Pope Emeritus" Benedict XVI (R) greeting Pope Francis upon his arrival at the heliport in Castel Gandolfo. Pope Francis flew in to a papal residence near Rome on Saturday for an unprecedented encounter with Benedict XVI -- the first time a pontiff has met his predecessor.
Pope Francis flew in to a papal residence near Rome on Saturday for a meeting with "pope emeritus" Benedict XVI -- an unprecedented encounter in the history of the Catholic Church.
Both men were in the white vestments reserved for popes as Benedict has been allowed to continue wearing his papal robes even after his resignation and is still addressed as "Your Holiness".
Francis took a helicopter to the lakeside Castel Gandolfo summer residence where Benedict has been living since stepping down last month.