Pope Francis Makes Visit to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for Christmas

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Pope Francis visits his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, to exchange Christmas greetings at his Vatican home


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

Benedict Emerges from Papal Retirement to Defend Record on Sex Abuse

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has broken his self-imposed silence with a lengthy letter to a prominent atheist in which he defended himself from accusations he did not do enough to bring to justice sexually abusive priests.

The ex-pontiff spoke of his "profound consternation" that "evil" had entered so deeply into the Catholic faith. But he denied that he had, either as pope or previously as head of the Vatican office dealing with abuse cases, tried to "cover up" the scandals that tarnished the Church's reputation around the world.

"That the power of evil penetrated so far into the interior world of the faith is a suffering that we must bear, but at the same time must do everything to prevent it from repeating," he said.

The missive, sent to Piergiorgio Odifreddi, an atheist mathematician, and reprinted on the front page of leading Italian daily La Repubblica, was the first published statement from Benedict since he said on his retirement that he would live out his remaining years "hidden from the world".

The letter, which also discussed topics such as the nature of Catholic belief, the conflict between good and evil, and evolution, came just two weeks after La Repubblica published a similar letter from his successor Pope Francis on atheism and agnosticism. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Tuesday, September 24, 2013