Pope Francis wished his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI a 'Merry Christmas' this week in a rare social visit to his home on Vatican grounds.
The Vatican released television footage of the exchange of Christmas greetings between the two popes late Monday -- marking just the fourth time Benedict has been filmed since resigning in February, becoming the first pope in 600 years to do so.
“It is a pleasure to see you looking so well,” Pope Francis told his 86-year-old predecessor, who met him at the door of the ex-convent where he has been living in isolation.
Pope Francis was accompanied by his person[al] secretaries and also greeted members of Pope Benedict’s “pontifical family,” which include Archbishop George Gaenswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household and Benedict's personal secretary, as well as the “Memores Domini,” a small group of consecrated women who help him.
The two walked to a nearby chapel to pray, Pope Benedict with the aid of an ivory-handled wooden cane. » | Andrea Vogt, Rome | December 24, 2013
