Asking for prayer

Yesterday afternoon, shortly after 4:00pm local time, Pope Francis paid a visit to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in order to ask him to accompany him in prayer during the coming days as he travels to Brazil, and also to be closely united in prayer with the young people who are gathering in that country for the celebration of World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro this coming week.  In fact, this World Youth Day had been announced by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI himself, while he was Pope, and while he was visiting in Madrid for the World Youth Day festival which was held there in 2011.  Pope Francis presented Pope emeritus Benedict with a copy of the official programme of his voyage, so that from his monastery in the Vatican, Pope Benedict could participate spiritually and follow the transmissions of various events which will take place.  Pope Francis also presented his predecessor with one of the commemorative medals which has been struck as a remembrance of this voyage.

Benedict XVI assured His Holiness of his prayer, remembering the intense and marvellous experiences of his own encounters with the youth of the world in Cologne, in Sydney and in Madrid.

Yesterday’s meeting with Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, which began with a moment of common prayer in the monastery Chapel, and which included cordial exchanges, lasted approximately thirty minutes.