.jpg "People cheer as Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the closing Mass of World Youth Day at Campus Misericordiae in Krakow, Poland, July 31. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)")
.jpg "World Youth Day pilgrims cheer as Pope Francis leads the July 30 prayer vigil at the Field of Mercy in Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)")
.jpg "World Youth Day pilgrims wait for Pope Francis to arrive for a July 30 prayer vigil at the Field of Mercy in Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)")
.jpg "Pope Francis uses incense as he celebrates Mass with priests, religious and consecrated persons at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Lagiewniki, a suburb of Krakow, Poland, July 30. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)")
.jpg "Pope Francis celebrates Mass with priests, religious and consecrated persons at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Lagiewniki, a suburb of Krakow, Poland, July 30. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)")
.jpg "Pope Francis blesses children during a visit to the Children's University Hospital in Krakow, Poland, July 29. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters)")
.jpg "Bishops and priests attend the opening Mass for World Youth Day July 26 at Blonia Park in Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)")
.jpg "Relics of Sts. Faustina Kowalska and John Paul II are carried into the opening Mass for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, July 26. (CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard)")
During the visit, which lasted about 30 minutes July 19, Pope Francis gave his predecessor a booklet with a detailed account of the trip itinerary, along with the times the events will be broadcast in Italy, "so that he can spiritually participate in the events and, if he'd like to, follow the broadcasts," said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman.
Pope Francis also gave Pope Benedict one of the commemorative medals minted for the Brazil trip. On one side is a relief of Pope Francis in profile; on the reverse is a reproduction of the famous Rio statue of Christ with his arms outstretched and the words "Rio 2013 World Youth Day" -- in Portuguese.
"Benedict XVI assured him of his prayers, recalling his intense and marvelous experiences at previous world gatherings with young people in Cologne, Sydney and Madrid," Father Lombardi said.
Pope Benedict chose Rio as the site of World Youth Day 2013 and announced his choice at the end of World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid. He also chose the theme, "Go and make disciples of all nations."
The spokesman said Pope Francis' visit to the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery where Pope Benedict lives began with the two praying together in the chapel and continued with "a pleasant conversation."
The monastery is in the Vatican Gardens to the north of St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis lives in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, which is to the south of the basilica.
