Benedict XVI at the heliport to greet his successor. They pray together, "we are brothers." Crowds gather in the square in the hope that the two together we appear together.

Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) - The meeting of a strictly private nature between Francis and Benedict XVI, began with "a beautiful embrace," said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office. Francis had left the Vatican shortly after 12 o'clock, by helicopter. After a flight of 20 minutes and a double salute over Castel Gandolfo's main square, he arrived at the Pontifical Villas, where he was greeted by Benedict XVI, wearing a white cassock, the bishop of Albano Msgr. Marcello Semeraro and the Director of the Villas, Saverio Petrillo.

It should be noted, with regard to the clothing, that the Pope emeritus wore a simple white cassock, without a sash or mantella, or cape: these are the two details which distinguish his vestments from clothing of Pope Francis who instead wears both the sash and cape .

The Pope and the Pope emeritus then went to the chapel in the Apostolic Palace to pray. Benedict XVI wanted Francis to use the kneeler of honor, but the Pope wanted them to kneel down together on the same pew to pray. "We are brothers," he said. Francis brought the gift of a statue of Our Lady of humility.

There was then the private face to face meeting, which lasted 40-45 minutes and lunch, along with the two secretaries, Msgr. Gaenswein and Msgr. Xuereb.

Father Lombardi described the meeting as "a moment of profound and elevated communion." The encounter, he added, gave Benedict XVI the opportunity to "renew his act of reverence and obedience to his successor" and for his successor to renew his "gratitude and that of the whole Church and the for the ministry carried out by Benedict during his pontificate." Father Lombardi said that if it was their first meeting in person, the Pope "had already, on many occasions, turned his thoughts to the Pope Emeritus", whom he had called twice on the phone, on the day of his election and St. Joseph's Day, to wish him a happy 'name' day.

The Pope emeritus also plans to accompany Francis to the heliport for his return journey, scheduled for early afternoon and said he did not believe that the two popes will not appear together on the balcony of the palace overlooking the square.

The high expectation of the inhabitants of the village is likely to be disappointed.  Those gathered in the Lazio town had applauded the passage of the helicopter, which made two turns above Freedom Square, in front of the entrance of the Pontifical Villas.  The crowds also from time to time chanted the names Francis and Benedict in the hope that the two of them would appear together on the balcony.

The scarcity of news confirms the private nature of the meeting, which is also in line with what Benedict XVI had this to say on February 14, meeting with priests of the diocese of Rome: "Even if I retire now, I'm always close in prayer to all you, and you will be close to me, even if I remain hidden away from the world. "

Today's meeting also had unleashed the imagination of the media which speculated on whether Benedict XVI would today handover the  of Vatileaks "dossier" and other rumors along the same lines.

 

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