Castel Gandolfo (CNN) -- Pope Francis had lunch Saturday with his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in what the Vatican said was the first such encounter in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Francis, who was inaugurated as the new head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics on Tuesday, has made some changes since taking the helm -- most notably by adopting a simpler, personal style and calling for the church to focus on serving the poor and needy. The new pontiff was flown to Castel Gandolfo by helicopter for the lunch date. He was greeted at the helipad by Benedict XVI, and the pair exchanged an embrace, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said. They then rode in a car together to the Castel Gandolfo residence.
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Video shows Francis and Benedict exchanging warm greetings, praying together
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Vatican: Meeting was "a moment of profound and elevated communion"
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The new pontiff and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had lunch at Castel Gandolfo
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Vatican says this is a first, since a new pope is usually picked after the death of his predecessor
The pair may also have talked about possible appointments by @placeholder.
They have spoken several times by telephone since @placeholder was elected 10 days ago, but this was their first face-to-face meeting, the Vatican said.