The current pope said: "His mind and his memory are intact, perfect."
He was speaking in La Nacion magazine and praised the 89-year-old emeritus pope as a "revolutionary".
Francis said Benedict's abdication "exposed all the problems of the church" and was itself "an act of government, his final act of government".
The special interview was published almost a week after the current and former popes appeared together at an unprecedented Vatican ceremony celebrating the 65th anniversary of Benedict's ordination as a priest.
The event aimed to show continuity from Benedict to Francis even as some conservatives have called for leadership more in line with Benedict's tradition-minded papacy.
Speaking about ultra-conservatives, Pope Francis said he avoids conflict, saying: "They do their work and I do mine."
He went on: "I want a church that is open, compassionate, that accompanies wounded families.
"They say no to everything."
He added: "I'm not a head-hunter. I've never liked doing that."
Pope Francis was also asked about rumours that he has a cold relationship with Argentina's conservative new president Mauricio Macri, describing him as "a noble person".
He acknowledged that as archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had had a difference with Mr Macri, then mayor, when city officials declined to appeal against a court ruling that granted a marriage licence to a same-sex couple.
The pope said that that was their only dispute in six years, adding: "That's a very low average."
