Pope Francis has paid a Christmas visit to Pope Emeritus Benedict during which they said prayers together before have a private conversation.<br /><br />Television footage released by the Vatican showed the current Pope’s 86-year-old predecessor looking alert and in better health than on previous occasions.<br /><br />Benedict is the first pope in 600 years to step down, instead of ruling for life. Since February, he has been living in near isolation in an ex-convent on the Vatican grounds.
