Pope Francis, left, meets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, March 23, 2013, in this picture provided by the Vatican paper L'Osservatore Romano. /AP Photo/Osservatore Romano
Updated at 11:16 a.m. ET
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy Pope Francis traveled Saturday to this hill town south of Rome to have lunch with his "brother" and predecessor Benedict XVI, a historic and potentially problematic melding of the papacies that has never before confronted the Catholic Church.
The two men dressed in white embraced warmly on the helipad in the gardens of Castel Gandolfo, where Benedict has been living since he stepped down Feb. 28 and became the first pope to resign in 600 years.
CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reports from Castel Gandolfo that it seems reasonable that the two would discuss the confidential report on Vatican corruption that Benedict commissioned and had held in secret for his successor to read.
The Vatican has announced that heads of departments who automatically lost their jobs during the interim between popes were being reinstated until other provisions are made, a clear signal that Francis is already getting on with the job of cleaning up the mess that contributed to Benedict's resignation, Pizzey reports.
In a series of gestures that ensued Saturday, Benedict made clear that he considered Francis to be pope while Francis made clear he considered his predecessor to be very much a revered brother and equal. They clasped hands repeatedly, showing one another the deference owed a pope in ways that surely turned Vatican protocol upside down.
Traveling from the helipad to the palazzo, Francis sat on the right-hand side of the car, the traditional place of the pope, while Benedict sat on the left. When they entered the chapel inside the palazzo to pray, Benedict tried to direct Francis to the papal kneeler at the front of the chapel, but Francis refused.
"No, we are brothers," Francis told Benedict, according to the Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi. He said Francis wanted to pray together with Benedict, so the two used a different kneeler in the pews and prayed side-by-side.
Francis also brought a gift to Benedict, an icon of the Madonna, and told him that it's known as the "Madonna of Humility."
"I thought of you," Francis told Benedict. "You gave us so many signs of humility and gentleness in your pontificate." Benedict replied: "Grazie, grazie."
Benedict wore the simple white cassock of the papacy, with a quilted white jacket over it to guard against the chill, but minus the sash and cape worn by Francis. Walking with a cane, he looked frail compared to the robust 76-year-old Argentine.
Outside the villa, the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo was packed with well-wishers bearing photos of both popes and chanting "Francesco! Francesco!" But the Vatican made clear they probably wouldn't see anything.
The Vatican downplayed the remarkable reunion in keeping with Benedict's desire to remain "hidden from the world" and not interfere with his successor's papacy. There was no live coverage by Vatican television, and only a short video and still photos were released after the fact.
The Vatican spokesman said the two spoke privately for 40-45 minutes, followed by lunch with the two papal secretaries, but no details were released.
All of which led to enormous speculation about what these two popes might have said to one another after making history together: Benedict's surprise resignation paved the way for the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit, and the first to call himself Francis after the 13th century friar who devoted himself to the poor, nature and working for peace.
That the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was second only to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the 2005 conclave that elected Ratzinger pope has only added to the popular imagination about how these two popes of such different style, background and priorities might get along.
Perhaps over their primo, or pasta course during Saturday's lunch, they discussed the big issues facing the church: the rise of secularism in the world, the drop in priestly vocations in Europe, the competition that the Catholic Church faces in Latin America and Africa from evangelical Pentecostal movements.
During their secondo, or second course of meat or fish, they might have gone over more pressing issues about Francis' new job: Benedict left a host of unfinished business on Francis' plate, including the outcome of the top-secret investigation into the leaks of papal documents last year that exposed corruption and mismanagement in the Vatican administration. Francis might have wanted to sound Benedict out on his ideas for management changes in the Holy See administration, a priority given the complete dysfunctional government he has inherited.
Over coffee, they might have discussed future of Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, Benedict's trusted aide who has had the difficult task of escorting his old pope into retirement and then returning to the Vatican to serve his successor in the initial rites of the office.
Gaenswein, who wept as he and Benedict made their final goodbyes to staff in the papal apartment on Feb. 28, has appeared visibly upset and withdrawn at times as he has been by Francis' side. The Vatican has said Francis' primary secretary will be Monsignor Alfred Xuereb, who had been the No. 2 secretary under Benedict.
Both Xuereb and Gaenswein were present for lunch. Start to finish, the meeting lasted about 2 1/2 hours, with Benedict escorting Francis back to the helipad for the ride back to the Vatican.
Benedict's resignation — and his choices about his future — have raised the not-insignificant question of how the Catholic Church will deal with the novel situation of having one reigning and one retired pope living side-by-side, each of them called "pope," each of them wearing papal white and even sharing the same aide in Gaenswein.
Before Benedict announced his decision to be known as "emeritus pope," one of the Vatican's leading canon lawyers, the Jesuit Rev. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, penned an article suggesting that such a title would be inappropriate for Benedict since in renouncing the papacy he had "lost all the power of primacy" conferred on him by his election as pope.
The alternate title — which Vatican officials had suggested would be likely be chosen — was that of "emeritus bishop of Rome," since bishops routinely retire and are known as "emeritus bishops."
But Benedict opted instead for "emeritus pope," "Your Holiness" and also chose to keep wearing the white cassock of the papacy, leading to questions about both his own influence on the future pontiff and whether Catholics more favorable to his traditional style might try to undermine his successor's authority and agenda by keeping their allegiance to the old pope.
Today's historic meeting between Popes Benedict XVI and Francis was heartwarming. They are really great friends. In the 2005 Conclave the current Pope Francis garnered enough votes to form a majority against the anti Ratzinger group of cardinals. Cardinal Ratzinger prevailed and the rest is history. I think that the prognosticators of disunity in the Church are in for a disappointment. Both Pontiffs are committed to preserving the precepts of the Church which are found in the Catechism and canon law. Of course their styles are somewhat different. But it is well to remember that over 25 million people attended Pope Benedict's liturgical events at home and abroad. His ecumenical outreach to all religions is without peer. Also, Pope Benedict made regular visits to hospitals, prisons orphanages and schools. In 2007 he said Mass at the same detention center for youth where Pope Francis will preside on Holy Thursday. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.(Miss) Carol Raphael BROSNAN
2013 is a historic year indeed! After so many years of the same old thing, something different! If Popes continue to retire, then the new Pope can call on the retired Popes for guidance. What better way to get a feel for what happened a few years back. May everyone enjoy Passover and Easter!
Since the Catholic Church is really the Roman Empire still on earth, they have conducted a world wide campaign of conquest in all spheres of interest. The wool being pulled over the eyes of man is of their making. It all occurred with Constantine's edited the first bible in 325A.D. by the roman calander we still use today. Do you know what else we still use today? The worldwide banking system we use today was created by the catholics, with the crusaders. How rich I dare say is the false religion that has held man captive worth today?
The Roman Catholic Church is not the Roman Empire. The RC Church is more concerned about spiritual leadership than winning wars against "barbarians." The RC Church continues to lead in education, charitable works, and taking care of the poor. Pope Francis, as a Jesuit, is especially concerned about tending to the poor.
I enjoy the news from the Vatican. These two men are both dedicated, they have provided long and faithful service to this world. They are both concerned about the corruption within the Catholic Church, as was John Paul II. It was Pope John Paul II who appointed many new Cardinals in order to disperse the power of the Church to a broader base, and that move has already paid off with the first Argentine Pope.
These men represent efforts to improve the Church as well as being faithful to its true foundation.
For all its faults the Catholic Church does represent Faith on this earth, and it does represent all Christians to some degree. The Pope has often been the voice that speaks for all of us on key issues.
I'm not Catholic but I do pray for these two men, both of them. I think Francis and Benedict are holy men - and I'm pleased to see the choices that the Cardinals have made in selecting their leaders.
God bless Pope Francis! I pray he can keep living up to great deeds of St. Francis himself. Franciscans and Jesuits were the first missionaries on the scene in America! St. Francis - Pray for us! North American Martyrs - Pray for us!
Two silly old deluded men in ridiculous costumes. One was too old and too tired from pretending to be a virgin for 90 years so he let his old disgustingly bigoted friend take over (sorry, a group of other old silly gross trash elected his friend). This is such a sad world we live in that people like these types are regarded in any sort of respect.
Well, that does not bode well for the victims of the church! What, pray tell, will he say to the victims that Ratzinger has refused to honor, with confessions and criminal penitence before the human peers on the face of the earth? Will the "brothers" continue to unleash their church pedophiles on the children of the US and hide those that have abused and raped in the past? "Brothers" my @%$*#& they need to take that *(&Q#$*)^#@ and make the final confessions and penitences before their humans, before they will be able to absolve themselves of gross sins against humanity.
Benedict, over lunch, can now provide Francis with all the 'tricks of the trade' on how to protect pedophiles in the Catholic Church. He can also share with Francis how to suck the last peso out of poor peasants throughout the world as donations to the church to add to that bloated, corruption-ridden organization's unbelievable wealth, while teasing the ignorant with the promise of salvation for giving up their hard earned money in the name of some ridiculous belief in an invisible person in the sky. If it wasn't to sad, it would be laughable.
The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.
Reply to Comment The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.
http://allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/2013/03/francis-meets-benedict.html
In case that link does not work, the video of the first meeting of Benedict and Francis can be found here as well -
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/il-nuovo-papa/a-castel-gandolfo-lo-storico-incontro-tra-i-due-papi/123281/121771
The wool being pulled over the eyes of man is of their making.
It all occurred with Constantine's edited the first bible in 325A.D. by the roman calander we still use today.
Do you know what else we still use today? The worldwide banking system we use today was created by the catholics, with the crusaders.
How rich I dare say is the false religion that has held man captive worth today?
These men represent efforts to improve the Church as well as being faithful to its true foundation.
For all its faults the Catholic Church does represent Faith on this earth, and it does represent all Christians to some degree. The Pope has often been the voice that speaks for all of us on key issues.
I'm not Catholic but I do pray for these two men, both of them. I think Francis and Benedict are holy men - and I'm pleased to see the choices that the Cardinals have made in selecting their leaders.
This is such a sad world we live in that people like these types are regarded in any sort of respect.