1 minute read
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS: Newly elected Pope Francis has met his predecessor for lunch, the first time such a meeting has been possible for more than 600 years.
Pope Francis was flown by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo for the private lunch with Pope Emeritus Benedict, reports Armenpress, referring to BBC.
Benedict has lived at the lakeside castle south of Rome since last month, when he became the first pope in six centuries to resign, citing ill health.
Cardinal Jorge Maria Bergoglio was elected to succeed him on 13 March. There is no public record of any previous meeting between a Pope and a former Pope, as the new head of the Catholic Church is usually elected after the death of his predecessor, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome.