After four years, Benedict XVI left the Vatican and visited Rome – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI left the Vatican for the first time in four years and visited the "Castelli Romani" region; on the outskirts of the Italian capital.

Jospeh Ratzinger, 92, lives in the Mater Ecclesia Monastery, located in the Vatican Gardens, since his resignation from the pontificate on February 28, 2013.

Later Thursday, Ratzinger visited the environs of Rome, including the pontifical village of Castel Gandolfo, accompanied by his badistant Georg Ganswein, according to the photos published by the website ilmamilio.it.

After Castel Gandolfo, Ratzinger went to Rocca di Papa, to the shrine of Virgen del Tufo, to pray and greet the parish priest. Finally, he went to Frascati, to the archbishop's palace, where he was received by the bishop, Raffaello Martinelli.

It was a private tour armored by a thick cordon of Vatican gendarmerie bodyguards, the site said.