Amid all the news, speculation, reading and thinking about the new encyclical and the forthcoming canonisation of Pope’s John XXIII and John Paul II, I was still mostly touched by this photo (and photos like it):
Although it is a bit strange to see Pope emeritus Benedict XVI take a (literal) back seat as Pope Francis does the honours of consecrating a statue of St. Michael the Archangel in the Vatican Gardens, that is compensated by simply seeing him appear healthy and relaxed again. It is said that the first weeks of his retirement were difficult for him, but Benedict has since adjusted to his well-deserved rest in the solitude of the Vatican gardens. Yesterday’s ceremony, in which the Vatican was consecrated to the protection of St. Michael the Archangel should also serve to safeguard the retired Pope, who basically lives just around the corner of the saint’s new statue.
In Caelo et in Terra 