Rafael Tornini, head of the Garden and Environment Service of the Vatican, told L'Osservatore Romano that the gardens, which cover 37 acres, will embrace "the green" vocation enunciated by Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si'.

Since the project was initiated in 2017, the Vatican Gardens has reduced its use of chemical substances by 96%, according to the report in L'Osservatore Romano. Read more

Kai Diekmann, editor-in-chief of Bild Zeitung, visited the former Pope at his residence inside the Vatican on October 15.

Benedict, 88, greeted Diekmann with a warm, two-handed handshake.

"He is there on the doorstep, our Pope," Diekmann wrote.

"Bright-eyed, smiley, leaning on a Zimmer frame. He is wearing a white cassock and a simple pair of brown sandals on his feet.

"Ratzinger is in good spirits, wide-awake, no signs of weariness. He sits on the sofa: the weariness that was visible when he announced his resignation before a gathering of cardinals seems miles away," the German editor wrote.

Diekmann presented Benedict with a small artwork by German artist Albert Klink.

Benedict XVI took it in his hands, ran his hands over it several times and smiled, confiding that that through that piece of art he could feel all the closeness and affection of his fellow countrymen.

An article about the meeting described aspects of Benedict's residence.

"A small reception hall, a wooden staircase that leads up to the first floor. The sitting room is welcoming and bright, there is a white leather sofa and a simple seat.

"A book case that reaches the ceiling, a flat-screen TV with a DVD player and some religious icons on the walls.

"A coffee table and a piano with a black-and-white photo of his brother Georg."

After the meeting with Diekmann, Benedict travelled by a small golf-cart-like vehicle to pray at a Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens.

This is a part of his daily routine.

Sources

• Vatican Insider
• Image: Fr Ray's Blog