2 Popes Meet: 'We Are Brothers'

Pope Francis prays with Pope emeritus Benedict
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 23, 2013 9:41 AM CDT
2 Popes Meet: 'We Are Brothers'
In this photo provided by the Vatican paper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis meets Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.   (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO)

It's a Catholic first: A sitting pope met with his predecessor today. Pope Francis traveled to Castel Gandalfo outside Rome to visit with Pope emeritus Benedict, reports the BBC. The AP says both men paid deference to other other. When they entered a chapel, for instance, Benedict directed Francis to the front row, but Francis insisted they pray side-by-side. "We are brothers," he said. The two met privately for 45 minutes, then had lunch. The Vatican didn't release any details about their discussion. (More Pope Francis stories.)

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