Pope Francis and new cardinals visit Benedict XVI

By Vatican News staff reporter

On Saturday afternoon, at the end of the Ordinary Public Consistory, Pope Francis and the new cardinals visited Mater Ecclesiae Monastery to meet Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for a brief greeting.

After receiving his blessing, along with that of Pope Francis, and praying the Salve Regina together, the new cardinals went to the Apostolic Palace or the Paul VI Hall for courtesy visits, according to the Holy See Press Office.

The visit to Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens has now become a custom, ever since the 2016 Consistory. On the first two occasions in 2014 and 2015, Benedict XVI had taken part in the celebration in St. Peter's Basilica.