The new pontiff was flown to Castel Gandolfo by helicopter for the lunch date.
Peter's and quickly became a speck in the horizon as it flew toward Castel Gandolfo.
WSJ: Pope Bids Faithful Farewell In Emotional, Historic Exit
No chemical fertilizers are used, just organic fertilizer sent straight from the gardens at Castel Gandolfo.
CNN's Hada Messia and Ben Wedeman reported from Castel Gandolfo and Laura Smith-Spark wrote and reported from London.
According to police at Castel Gandolfo, the crowds numbered between 1, 500 and 2, 000.
Awaiting Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo were scores of faithful jammed into the small square in front of the papal residence.
WSJ: Pope Bids Faithful a Farewell In Emotional, Historic Exit
The pontiff, born Joseph Ratzinger, will first go by helicopter to the pope's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Lombardi said.
CNN: Vatican: Cardinals could meet sooner to choose new pope
It was a pledge he repeated in person on March 23 when Francis went to have lunch with him at Castel Gandolfo.
The resignation was marked by the papal Swiss Guards stepping down from their posts at Castel Gandolfo to return to the Vatican.
Benedict's final public words were given to about 10, 000 people who had gathered at Castel Gandolfo to bid him an emotional farewell.
He will meet with the cardinals Wednesday and Thursday, before being flown by helicopter to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.
One of his first acts as Pope was to call Benedict at Castel Gandolfo, where the former pontiff had been following proceedings on television.
Dolan said the newly elected pope will visit his predecessor Benedict XVI on Thursday at the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.
Benedict is currently staying at the summer papal residence, Castel Gandolfo, while restoration work is carried out on a small monastery within Vatican City.
But a Vatican spokesman said he does not believe the pope will go on Thursday to Castel Gandolfo, the summer papal residence where Benedict is staying.
In one of his first acts as pope, Francis on Thursday morning planned to visit Benedict at the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.
Castel Gandolfo (CNN) -- Pope Francis is having lunch Saturday with his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in what may be an encounter unprecedented in Church history.
The new Pope has yet to meet his predecessor, who has been living in seclusion since his retirement at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.
Now known as pontiff emeritus, he will spend the next few weeks at the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, before moving to a small monastery within the Vatican grounds.
Since his Feb. 28 resignation, Benedict has been "hidden to the world" as he himself predicted, living at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, in the hills south of Rome.
After a few months in Castel Gandolfo, Benedict is to return to the Vatican to live in a converted monastery in the Vatican gardens, just a short walk from St.
On Thursday, the pope meets with his cardinals in the morning and then flies by helicopter at 5 p.m. local time to Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence south of Rome.
On 28 February he will fly off to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, where he will stay while Church leaders go through the complicated ritual of choosing a successor.
Benedict will begin his retirement in the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo before he withdraws to a monastery being built for him in Vatican City, a Vatican spokesman has said.
Outside the villa, the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo was packed Saturday with well-wishers hoping to catch a glimpse of history: two popes breaking bread together and presumably discussing the future of the Catholic Church.
His personal archive of documents will be packed up and, at 20:00 (19:00 GMT) on Thursday, the Swiss Guard on duty at his Castel Gandolfo residence will be dismissed, to be replaced by Vatican police.
The pope, born Joseph Ratzinger, will first head to the pope's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo before he likely retires to a monastery and devotes himself to a life of reflection and prayer, Lombardi said.
The Pope was to retire to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo when he leaves office, the Vatican said, before moving into a renovated monastery used by cloistered nuns for "a period of prayer and reflection".
Immediately after his resignation, Benedict will spend some time at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, overlooking Lake Albano in the hills south of Rome where he has spent his summer vacations reading and writing.
The pontiff, born Joseph Ratzinger, will first go to the pope's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, and then is likely to retire to a monastery and devote himself to a life of reflection and prayer, Lombardi said.
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