Pope Francis prepares historic meet with predecessor Benedict
The meeting between a pope and a former pope is believed to be a first for the Catholic Church
Vatican City: Pope Francis< > prepared to go face to face with his predecessor Benedict XVI< > on Saturday in a historic meeting between two men with very different styles but important core similarities.
Benedict is living temporarily in Castel Gandolfo with his secretary Georg Gaenswein< >—who confusingly is also the head of his successor’s papal household—and with the four housekeepers who looked after him when he was still pope.
Since his election last Wednesday, Jorge Bergoglio< > has called his predecessor up twice. The last time was on the day of his inauguration on Tuesday when he congratulated Joseph Ratzinger on his name day of St Joseph.
Ratzinger was more a follower of tradition and never liked innovation.
“For the past 25 years, he has been the main intellectual force in the Church," said Samuel Gregg < >from the US-based Aston Institute religious think tank.
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