Some pics of the meeting of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict.
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Note position of the altar and the veiled crucifix during passiontide.
What’s going on in the last photo: Video shows Pope Francis walks into the chapel first and goes to the central prie-dieu in front of the altar, and waits for Benedict. When Benedict walks in, Francis motions him over; Benedict indicates, no, he is going to a different spot. Francis starts walking over to join Benedict; Benedict appears to indicate “No, no, Holy Father, the main one is for you!” Francis smiles and goes to kneel with Benedict at the pew closer to the back. In other words, Francis gave up the place of honour and joined Benedict in the lower place.
Earler in the video when the helicopter touches down, an honour guard of sort lines up to escort Francis off the plane. Francis sees Benedict and more or less pushes security aside to make a beeline to embrace Benedict.
Very touching!
Hermeneutic of continuity in action.
Ineffable.
In the video, Pope Francis is so gentle and gracious towards Pope Emeritus Benedict. His respect is so evident and heartfelt. He exudes deference.
Pope Emeritus Benedict no longer looks as if he is bearing the cares of the world on his shoulders. He was looking so burdened before he “retired”. I pray that he has many years left to enjoy and to be there as a friend to Pope Francis.
Thank you for the great pictures! I wish I could see the video but the Vatican app. Is only for computers, nothing for phones.
It so good to see PE Benedict again. I have missed seeing him.
It was nice to see the Pope Emeritus again. I pray he is doing better. Pope Francis was very caring in his gestures and words towards the Pope Emeritus.
Pingback: Pope and Emeritus Pope » The Curt Jester
They are brothers! I saw clearly the love and respect Papa Francis has for Papa Benedict. I too, am happy to catch a glimpse of Papa Benedict again. He has such a sweetness about him I smiled all the way home from work thinking about such beauty as revealed to us through the pictures here and on other websites.
I saved lots of them so that I never forget the tenderness shared between these two men of God. May their lives produce abundant fruit in the vineyard of the Divine Savior!
So unique, so humble and moving seeing Pope senior and Pope junior together.
But I thought Benedict looked very very fragile. Especially as he walked into chapel. He is moving very slowly, more so than just a month ago and certainly since Christmas Mass.
Also he looks thinner . I wonder if he my be sicker than we all know. Always sad to see souch great man and bishop and Pontiff not look well. But I think perhaps he knew how his body has been fading in strength the last year or so .
But the warmth between them is beautiful and I can now see why Arch Ganswein will stay with
Benedict when he returns to Rome. Needs to be near to him as a close friend and confidant, and am sure Francesco will call by often there to the casa to see how is going.
Pax
What sweet photos. It tugs at the heart so, to see our Pope Emeritus Benedict looking so little. He is decreasing. What a man of God. I love the words “We are brothers!”. I too hope they can have some time to be brothers. Please God, bless them both.
Here we go again with PF undermining the role of the Papacy. Benedict was indicating where PF should sit because of the office he holds not because he thinks PF is more important as person. Benedict can understand this…….. but not PF. No doubt people will say it is because he is humble etc. etc. its a pity his humility doesn’t extend to accepting the office of pope in its entirety and submerge that – this is the way i do it mentality- i am actually beginning to wonder if he believes he is the successor of Peter .No wonder Benedict looks so frail and aged. this past week would damage the health of any sensible Catholic
I see a “masque of courtesy,” and am charmed, because it is the kind of competition of respect and hospitality that a German professor-priest-pope and an Argentinian professor-priest-pope would naturally engage in. It is perfectly suitable for a prince and his overlord, a distinguished old prof and his old department’s current head, or any other combination you like. (Sadly, other people apparently do not see this.)
The trick is to have just enough ado that both of you can exhibit politeness and generosity, without wasting time or getting annoyingly persistent about it. Much like the cultures where you always resist the offer of food or drink once or twice, but never three times.
Surprised at Benedict’s overcoat. I would have anticipated a white greca.
Wonderful photos. Doesn’t this just give you the sense that it is all in good hands…
I thought we’d see the greca too. Benedict looks much more frail than just this past Christmas. I suspect he is much sicker than has been said. God bless him, he gave us 8 great years.
I like the fact that there appears to be a small cross of light by The Holy Father’s right ear in the third picture.
It’s a white quilted (down?) jacket. He has a matching white baseball cap. He wore in in the pictures walking in the garden the day after arriving at Castel Gondolfo.
It seems to be the same jacket and cap he wore on vacation in the Tyrol several years ago.
“Here we go again with PF undermining the role of the Papacy. Benedict was indicating where PF should sit because of the office he holds not because he thinks PF is more important as person. Benedict can understand this…….. but not PF.”
Fizzwizz, how do you know Pope Francis doesn’t understand where he is “supposed to sit?” Seems like he just decided to sit elsewhere. I think we can see that Pope Francis is very stubborn about what he will or won’t do. Not the former pope, (and Francis appears to love and revere him) nor you, nor anyone else but God, is going to be allowed to tell him what he is supposed to do. He is the pope and if he doesn’t behave the way some think he should there is no acceptable way of getting him out of office.
As for me, I think we may be very glad of his stubbornness as time goes by.
I forgot to add:
Besides, maybe Pope Francis was thinking something like this: Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1Peter 5:5
Katylamb,
so you think it’s pride that St. Pius X wore the papal tiara and sat in the throne of St. Peter and accepted all the honor’s due his office? That’s the problem with using humility to throw away customs built over 1500 years around the office of the Supreme Pontiff, you are inherently criticizing all of the great popes who came before (I believe Pope Francis is doing so). Stubbornness in the face precedents established by one’s saintly predecessors is not humility, it sounds like he’s saying “the carnival is over”.
MightyDuk, no, I do not think it was because of pride that other popes did those things you say. Why do you think I’m saying that? Is it because of the bible quote I posted? I regretted that as soon as I thought a little about it. I was just thinking that maybe Pope Francis was trying to show extra respect to Benedict because Benedict is older. I was not thinking of the words “be subject to” as meaning, “be obedient to,” but more as “be respectful of.” Other than that, I can’t see where you think I was saying what you seem to accuse me of saying. I said I think Pope Francis is stubborn. How can that be a comment on any other pope? If you think I said any such thing, please point out where so I can correct it, since I do not think that at all.
Fizzwizz,
Would you really wish such a terrible existence upon our Popes that they can’t even kneel next to someone else in prayer? I favor the appropriate ceremonialism as much as the next guy, but men aren’t entirely subsumed into their offices, even when that office is the Papacy. This meeting wasn’t an official exercise of Francis’ authority as Pope… He was going to pray with and talk to his predecessor. He fully trusts that Benedict isn’t trying to create a duumvirate… he didn’t need to make a display of his authority.
Are Popes forbidden from forming friendships and interacting with anyone on level plane? What right do we have to demand such an inhuman existence from anyone?
Thank you, MikeM. The vicious nastiness of some posters is literally heartbreaking. Imagine how sad someone must be to want to judge negatively every aspect of anyone else’s life, let alone our Holy Father’s. Nothing will help that kind but prayer and fasting.
MaryT & MikeM, you’ve said what’s been on my mind ever since I started reading this blog. I recall someone on TV saying that Pope Francis will disappoint the “liberals” (to be expected) on the one hand & on the other, those who think they’re more Catholic than the Pope, whoever he is. Sadly we have proof of the latter right here.
I saw the meeting on Italian TV yesterday & found it incredibly touching. They clearly love & respect each other.
1. It does NOT follow that one is inherently criticizing the actions of previous Popes.
2. This was a private meeting between a seated Pope and his predecessor. That is more or less uncharted territory.
3. Don’t confuse customs which are small-“t” tradition with Sacred Tradition. I’m pretty sure if a prior Pope enacted a custom, which is not Sacred Tradition, any Pope, including said Pope himself could suppress said custom, and who could pronounce judgement? The most one not the seated pontiff could do is state his personal beliefs upon the matter.