Lombardi: Castel Gandolfo meeting a moment of profound communion
(Vatican Radio) Speaking exclusively to Vatican Radio, the Director of the Holy
See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., reveals the details of this morning’s
historic encounter between Pope Francis and Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus, an encounter
he has described as a moment of profound and elevated communion:
“The
helicopter landed in Castel Gandolfo heliport, at about 12:15 and the car with the
retired Pope approached the helicopter landing site. The Holy Father alighted: he
was accompanied by the Substitute [Secretary of State] Msgr. Becciu, by Msgr. Sapienza
and Msgr. Alfred Xuereb. As the Pope alighted, the Pope Emeritus approached him and
there was a moving embrace between the two.
Then, there followed brief greetings
with those other present- the bishop of Albano and the Director of the Pontifical
Villas, Mr. Petrillo – they all got in the car: Pope Francis on the right, then place
reserved to the Pope, and the Pope emeritus on the left. Msgr. Georg Gänswein, who
is Prefect of the Papal Household, travelled in the same car. And so, the car brought
the two protagonists of this historic meeting to the elevators and they went up to
the apartments and immediately went to the chapel for a moment of prayer.
In
the chapel, the Pope emeritus offered the place of honor to Pope Francis, but he said:
"We are brothers," and wanted them to kneel together in the same place. After a short
moment of prayer, they then went to the private library where, at about 12:30, the
private meeting began. This is the Library where the Pope normally receives important
guests in Castel Gandolfo. Pope Francis brought a beautiful icon as a gift for the
Pope emeritus, their discussions ended at 13.15, lasting about 45 minutes. It should
be noted, with regard to the clothing, which actually - as we mentioned earlier -
the Pope emeritus wears a simple cassock white, without a sash and without a mantella:
these are the two details which distinguish his clothing from that of Pope Francis
who wears a mantella and sash.
The two Secretaries, and Msgr. Georg and Msgr.
Xuereb, are expected to eat lunch with them. Thus the totally private and confidential
meeting ended with the discussions in the Library. The Pope Emeritus will also accompany
Pope Francis to the heliport, when the time comes for his return. Let us remember
that this is not their first meeting: it is their first face-to-face meeting, but
Pope Francis had many times already addressed his thoughts to the Pope emeritus, during
his first appearance on the central Loggia, and then two personal calls: the night
of his election and St. Joseph’s Day.
Thus, the dialogue had already started,
even though the the personal, physical meeting had not yet taken place. Let us also
remember that the retired Pope had already expressed his unconditional reverence and
obedience to his successor at his farewell meeting with the Cardinals, February 28,
and certainly in this [morning’s] meeting - which was a moment of profound and elevated
communion –will have had the opportunity to renew this act of reverence and obedience
to his successor, and certainly Pope Francis renewed his gratitude and that of the
whole Church for Pope Benedict’s ministry during his pontificate”.