Francis visits Ratzinger before latter’s departure for Castel Gandolfo

At 10 o’clock this morning Pope Francis made his way over to the Mater Ecclesiae, the former convent where Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI resides, to greet him and wish him a pleasant stay at Castel Gandolfo. Benedict XVI left for the papal summer residence morning and will spend two weeks here. He is expected to return to the Vatican on 14 July. The meeting and brief conversation lasted about half an hour in all.

Last year too, Pope Francis invited Benedict XVI to spend some of his summer holiday at the Castel Gandolfo residence and this year the Pope Emeritus accepted.

Joseph Ratzinger has a number of commitments this summer. On 3 July, he will receive an Honoris Causa Doctorate from the Pontifical University John Paul II and Cracow Music Economy, during a public ceremony at Castel Gandolfo.

At the end of August, Benedict XVI will attend the inauguration of the library that bears his name, in the Collegio Teutonico (German College) in the Vatican. The library was sponsored by the Ratzinger Foundation and Benedict XVI has donated many volumes to it.

Source: news.va (July 2, 2015)