Ex-Pope Benedict moves back to Vatican City two months after his resignation

Pope Emeritus Benedict has returned to the Vatican, two months after becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years

Pope Emeritus Benedict has returned to the Vatican, two months after becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years.

The former pope was flown by helicopter from the Castel Gandolfo papal summer residence to live permanently in Vatican City.

Greeted by Pope Francis as he arrived, Benedict was driven the short distance to his new accommodation.

Ex-Pope Benedict, 86, was last seen in public on March 23 and there has been speculation about his health.

Observers said at the time he appeared more frail than when he stepped down on February 28.

However, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said this week that Emeritus Pope Benedict was not ill.

Pope Emeritus Benedict has returned to the Vatican, two months after becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years

Hours after his arrival, the Vatican issued a photograph of Benedict shaking hands with Pope Francis. However, unlike his departure from the Vatican, there was no live TV coverage of his return.

Benedict will live in the converted Mater Ecclesiae convent just behind St Peter’s Basilica, with his personal secretary, Georg Gaenswein.

The building, described as “small but well equipped” by Federico Lombardi, includes an attached chapel, a library and a study.

There is also a guest room available for when his older brother, Georg Ratzinger, visits.

The Vatican said Pope Francis welcomed Benedict “with great and fraternal cordiality”.

The two then held a “brief moment of prayer” in Benedict’s chapel.

Benedict will now dedicate himself to a life of private prayer in the service of the Church, according to the Vatican.

His arrival heralds an unprecedented era of a former pope living close to his successor at the Vatican.

But at the time of his abdication, Benedict suggested he would not try influence his successor, saying he would live out the rest of his days “hidden from the world”.

At a meeting in March with Pope Francis, he also repeated “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor.

When he resigned, Pope Benedict cited his advanced age as the reason, saying he no longer had the strength for “an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry”.

NURhI9RfkG0

Diane A. Wade

Diane is a perfectionist. She enjoys searching the internet for the hottest events from around the world and writing an article about it. The details matter to her, so she makes sure the information is easy to read and understand. She likes traveling and history, especially ancient history. Being a very sociable person she has a blast having barbeque with family and friends.