Pope and predecessor in face to face

A reigning pope and a former pope faced each other for the first time in at least 600 years on Saturday when Pope Francis travelled south of Rome for lunch with his predecessor, pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

Francis, who was elected on Mar 13, flew by helicopter to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, where Benedict has been living since he abdicated.

Footage released by the Vatican showed the pair, both dressed in nearly identical white clerical garb, including white skull caps, embracing shortly after the helicopter landed.