Rare day at Vatican as two popes share stage

Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II, the 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark Cathedral, give their blessings after the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

It was a rare day at the Vatican on Wednesday as two popes shared the limelight in St Peter's Square - Pope Francis and His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Tawadros, dressed in black robes, was the guest of honour at Francis' general audience in a rainy St. Peter's Square. The two sat near each other and delivered a joint blessing at the end.