A view taken on February 20, 2013 shows the Pontiff’s gardens of the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI will stay at the Vatican’s summer residence from February 28 until the convent of Mater Ecclesiae (Mother of the Church) at the Vatican will be ready to host him. Pope Benedict XVI began a week-long spiritual retreat out of the public eye on February 18 ahead of his resignation on February 28 with the field of candidates to succeed him still wide open AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy—Pope Francis flew in for an unprecedented encounter with his predecessor Benedict XVI at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome — a first in Catholic Church history.
The pope’s helicopter was seen landing near the picturesque hilltop palace, an Agence France-Presse reporter saw. The Vatican said Benedict was waiting for him at the heliport and the two will have lunch.