Pope Benedict XVI waves in front of the Nativity scene at the end of 'Te Deum' prayer in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican , Saturday, Dec. 31, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during the Angelus prayer from his private apartment at the Vatican December 31, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI shakes hands with Vice-President and Head of Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization Esfandiar Rahim-Moshaee, flanked by Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, prior to their meeting at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of his weekly general audience at the Paul VI hall in Vatican December 27, 2006
 

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during the Angelus prayer from his private apartment at the Vatican December 26, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses pilgrims during his Urbi et Orbi message (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican December 25, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI holds his pastoral staff as he celebrates midnight mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 25, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI holds a candle as he appears at the window of his private apartment following a ceremony for the unveiling of the Vatican nativity scene in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican December 24, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI is framed by the branches of a Christmas tree as he delivers his blessing during the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican , Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone speaks during a ceremony for dedicate to Pope John Paul II the Rome's Termini Railway Station, Rome, Dec.23, 2006.

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa gives a meditation in the presence of Benedict XVI, Cardinals, Bishops and Prelates, Redemptoris Mater Chapel at the Vatican, Dec.22, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI wears a red velvet cape trimmed in ermine during his an end-of-year speech to cardinals and bishops at the Vatican, Dec. 22, 2006.

A boy browses some pages during press conference for the presentation of the stickers book "The Guardian Angels of the Pope", 500 years of the Papal Swiss Guard, Rome, Dec.21, 2006.

A 33 metre-tall Christmas tree is lit during a ceremony in St-Peter's square at the Vatican, 20 December 2006. The tree is a gift to Pope Benedict XVI from Calabria.

Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by a zampognaro (bagpipe player) at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican December 20, 2006

 

Pope Benedict XVI has named S.E.Paolo Romeo as a new Archbishop of Palermo, today 19 December 2006.

Nativity scene figures from Tesero in northern Italy's Trent region have been lent to the Vatican for its annual display in St. Peter's Square. The life-size figures are sculpted by Tesero artists out of local spruce trees. The Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square will be unveiled Dec. 24 and remain in the square until the Feb. 2 feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

A challenge between Vatican employers soccer team, Swiss Guards soccer team and Vatican Museum employers soccer team at St.Peter's parish club, Rome, Dec.18, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during the Angelus prayer from his private apartments overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican December 17, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Nikola Gruevski, President of the Government of Republic of Macedonia during a private audience at the Vatican, Dec.16, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the head of Greece's Orthodox Church Archbishop Christodoulos (L) at the Vatican December 14, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI, flanked at left by Cardinal Camillo Ruini delivers his blessing at the end of a mass celebrated for the youths of Rome's universities, in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican , Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Israel 's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during a private audience at the Vatican, Dec.13, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful as he arrives for his weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec.13, 2006.

Workers erect a 35-metre high Christmas tree at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on early morning December 13, 2006. The tree, that is donated from a different part of Europe each year, came from the forests of Calabria in southern Italy.

Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, President of Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, speaks during a press conference for the presentation of Pope Benedict XVI's speech for the 2007 World Peace Day, at the Vatican, Dec.12, 2006.

Cardinal Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, Archpriest of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls Basilica, speaks during the press conference for the presentation of reinstate works on St.Paul Tomb at the Vatican, Dec.11, 2006.

Pope John Paul II, right, is met by Chilean President Gen. Augusto Pinochet at the Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in Santiago, Chile April 1, 1987. Pinochet, the fierce anti-communist dictator who ruled Chile with an iron fist from 1973 to 1990, died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006 from heart complications, the Santiago Military hospital reported. He was 91.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims and faithful from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican during the Angelus prayer Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI burns incense during a ceremony to consecrate a new church in Rome, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI, wearing an ermine-trimmed cape, prays in front of the Virgin Mary statue in Rome's Piazza di Spagna Square (Spanish Steps) on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception holiday, Friday, Dec. 8, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims and faithful from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican during the Angelus prayer on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception holiday, Friday, Dec. 8, 2006.

A firefighter puts a flowers crown on the Immaculate Conception statue on the Spain piazza in Rome, Dec. 08, 2006. Pope Benedict XVI will bless the statue in the afternoon during his annual pray.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of the Holy See, during the inauguration of the exhibition "Habemus Papam" at San Giovanni in Laterano Basilica, Rome, Dec.7, 2006.

Enzo Bianchi speaks during a conference of the 25th anniversary of Centro Astalli,a colloquium on Migratory Movements in the Pontifical University Gregoriana in Rome.December 7, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses the infant child of an Iraqi family at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican December 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during Angelus prayer from his private apartments overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican December 3, 2006.

Pope Benedict celebrates the First Vespers on the occasion of the first week of Advent in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Dec.02, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI and Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I arrive to the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George at the Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI visits the Blue Mosque without his shoes in Istanbul November 30, 2006. The Pope visited Istanbul's Blue Mosque on Thursday during his trip to predominantly Muslim Turkey, becoming only the second Roman Catholic Pontiff to ever enter a mosque

 

Pope Benedict XVI and Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I arrive to the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George at the Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006

 

Pope Benedict XVI is seen with Ali Bardakoglu, head of Turkey's religious affairs, during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006.
 

Turkish people protests during a rally against the forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI November 26 in Istanbul, Turkey. Benedict XVI will arrive November 28 in Turkey, his first visit to a Muslim country as pontiff
 

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams attends a mass celebrating the feast of Christ the King and marking the Fortieth Anniversary of the Anglican Centre in Rome, at S.Sabina Basilica, Rome, Nov.26, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithfull in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, 26 November 2006, during his traditionnal Angelus prayer. More police will protect Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Turkey next week than were deployed for US President George W. Bush, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul announced today

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (R) attends an Evening Prayer at Santa Maria sopra Minerva with Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor (L), Rome, Nov.24, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) meets the President of the Honduras Manuel Zelaya Rosales during a private audience in the Vatican November 24, 2006.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams looks on during a press conference in Rome, Friday Nov. 24, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams shake hands after signing a joint statement after 25 minutes of private talks during their meeting at the Vatican Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, attends a prayer service in memory of the seven Melanesian Brother, Anglican Christian, with the Community of Sant'Egidio in the S.Bartolomeo church, Rome, Nov.22, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone meets European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner (R) during his weekly general audience at the Vatican November 22, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI gestures while addressing pilgrims and faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly general audience at the Vatican Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006.

Pictures of the Pope calendar are displayed in the Italian Catholic weekly Famiglia Cristiana (Catholic Family) news desk in Rome, Wednesday Nov. 22, 2006.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams (L) and Cardinal Walter Kasper (R), president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, arrive at St Anselmo’s, the Benedictine university in Rome, Nov.21, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, attends a mass to inaugurate the new academic year of the Catholic University, Rome, Nov. 21, 2006.

Mexican Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan , president of the Ponti fical Council for Health Care Ministry speaks during a press conference for the XXI International Conference on " The Pastoral Aspects of the Treatment of Infectious Diseases " Nov 21, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI welcomes Italian President Giorgio Napolitano during an official visit the pontiff granted him at the Vatican Monday, Nov. 20, 2006.

Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk , Archbishop of Seoul ( Korea ) attends a mass to take position in his titular church "Santa Maria Immacolata di Lourdes", during a ceremony, in Rome, Nov. 19, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI holds his weekly Angelus blessing from a window of his private apartment overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican November 19, 2006
 

Pope Benedict XVI meets German President Horst Köhler (L), during a private audience at the Vatican, Nov. 18, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI presides over a meeting with Vatican top officials at the Vatican Sala Bologna Hall, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI leads his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican November 15, 2006
 

Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino (C), President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants speaks during a press conference for the presentation of Pope Benedict XVI's message for the 93th World Day of Migrants (Jan 14, 2007) at the Vatican, Nov.14, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI holds his weekly Angelus blessing from a window of his private apartment overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican November 12, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets President of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos at his private library at the eve of his travel to Turkey, November 10, 2006, in Vatican City.

The Cover of new Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 Calendar will sell with "Famiglia Cristiana" magazine next 23th of November.

Pope Benedict XVI leads his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican November 8, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Hungary's President of the Republic Laszlo Solyom (R) during a private audience at the Vatican, Nov. 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during the Angelus prayer, in St. Peter's square at the Vatican , Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at St.Peter's basilica at the Vatican, 04 November 2006, to celebrate a mass for the Cardinals and Bishops who died in the last year.

Pope Benedict waves to the faithful as he leaves the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome November 3, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during the Angelus prayer for the All Saints Day in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican, Nov. 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI receives help to remove his mitre as he conducts the Holy Mass for All Saints' Day in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican November 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict on Tuesday 24 Oct. named Cardinal Hummes to head the Vatican's powerful department that oversees Roman Catholic priests around the world.

Pope Benedict XVI holds his weekly Angelus blessing from a window of his private apartment overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican October 29, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, attends a mass with an international delegation of military ordinariates in the S.Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Oct.27, 2006.

S.Ecc. Mons.Angelo Comastri (R), Archbishop of Loreto and Father Jarek Cielecki (L), editor in chief of Vatican News Service, light up a candel from Pope John Paul II's tomb to carry to the church of Niegowic (Poland) for the 60th anniversary of John Paul II's priest ordination.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful as he is driven through the crowd prior to his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006.

Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz attends a mass to take position in his titular church Santa Maria del Popolo, during a ceremony, in Rome, Oct. 24, 2006.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone speaks during the presentation of an historical exhibition on first 150 years of Osservatore Romano, Valentini Palace, Rome, Oct. 24, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his speech inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Monday, Oct. 23, 2006, during a Mass for the beginning of the Academic Year of the Ecclesiastic Universities. At left is Polish Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect of Catholic Education.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican, Sunday,Oct. 22, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI , flanked by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, left, and Pontificial Lateran University rector Bishop Rino Fisichella, right, attends a ceremony to inaugurate the new academic year of the Pontificial Lateran University, in Rome, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the coffin of Italian Cardinal Mario Francesco Pompedda in Saint Peter's basilica at the Vatican, 20 Octobre 2006. Cardinal Mario Francesco Pompedda, member of the papal electoral college died, 18 Octobre 2006, at the age of 77.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, President of Italian Bishop Conference, speaks during the closing ceremony of meeting of the nation's Bishops on the state of the Roman Catholic Church in Verona, Oct.20, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates an open-air Mass at the Bentegodi stadium during the meeting of the nation's Bishops on the state of the Roman Catholic Church in Verona, northern Italy October 19, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI looks on during the meeting of the nation's Bishops on the state of the Roman Catholic Church in Verona, northern Italy, October 19, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI 's private secretary, the 49-year-old Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, changes the pontiff's skull cap during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Wednesday Oct. 18, 2006.

Opening ceremony of the Meeting of the nation's Bishops on the state of the Roman Catholic Church at Verona's Arena, northern Italy October 16, 2006.

Priests and delegates arrives to meeting of the nation's Bishops on the state of the Roman Catholic Church in Verona, Oct.16, 2006.

Tapestries showing new saints Italian nun Rosa Venerini (L), Mexican bishop Rafael Guizar (2nd L), Italian priest Filippo Smaldone and Indiana nun Theodore Guerin (R) hang on St. Peter's Basilica as Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the canonisation ceremony in St. Peter's square at the Vatican October 15, 2006.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, gives a speech after being awarded a doctorate Honoris Causa from the University of Rome, Oct. 14, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves the faithfull at the end of a prayer and mass celebrated by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone for the faithful of Saint Padre Pio, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Italy's premier Romano Prodi for to their private audience at the Vatican, Friday, Oct. 13, 2006.

French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre ordained new priests, Econe, Swiss, Jul. 15, 1988 (filephoto) .Pope Benedict XVI has decided to loosen restrictions on use of the old Latin Mass, a Vatican official said yesterday, a major concession to ultratraditionalist Catholics, who split with the Vatican to protest reforms, Rome, Oct.12,2006
 

Pope Benedict XVI receives a gift from Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski during a private audience at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (R) delivers his address at the inauguration of the 'Petros Eni' exhibit, at the Vatican , Wednesday Oct. 11, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI prays during his weekly Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican October 11, 2006

Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of S.Paolo out of the wall Basilica, speaks during a conference on Israel and Holy See relationship at Saint Peter Association in Rome, Oct.10, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the new Vatican secretary of state, celebrates a mass in Santa Maria della Speranza, for the opening year of the University Pontificial Salesian, Rome, Oct.10, 2006.

Card.Keeler was injured an accident in Italy that killed another priest and injured a third, the Archdiocese of Baltimore said. Keeler and the two other priests were driving Saturday, Oct. 7, through the city of Terni, about 60 miles outside of Rome, when a car struck the passenger side of their vehicle, archdiocese spokesman Sean Caine said.

Archbishop of Bordeaux, France, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Bernard Ricard kisses a cross, a gesture which symbolizes the taking possession of his titular church, Sant' Agostino, during a ceremony, in Rome, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, from the window of his private apartment, prior to his Angelus prayer 08, October 2006
 

Pope Benedict XVI blesses some unidentified Italian majors upon his arrival for an audience with pilgrims from northern italian region Emilia-Romagna in Paul VI hall at the Vatican, 07 October 2006.

Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins (R), prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints speaks during an Ordinary Concistory with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, Jul. 1, 2006. File photo. Pope Benedict XVI will preside at the second canonization ceremony of his pontificate on Oct 15.

Pope Benedict XVI, center, meets with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, right, and his wife Margit Fischer, left, at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a boy during his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican October 4, 2006.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, Archivist of Vatican Secret Archives, speaks during a press conference for the presentation of an historical exhibition on first 150 years of Osservatore Romano, Valentini Palace, Rome, Oct. 3, 2006. On the right Mr. Enrico Gasbarra, President of Province of Rome.

Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston (USA), attends a mass to take position in his titular church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome, Oct. 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets faithful after the Angelus prayer in his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo in the outskirts of Rome, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets His Beatitude Mar Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans, during a private audience at his summer residence of Castelgandolfo outside Rome September 30, 2006.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini (R) speaks during the inauguration of the 5th Symposium of the University Teaching Staff 'Where is Europe going? People, Cultures, and Institutions', at the Rome's Vicariate Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. on tle left Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, Archbishop of Toledo.

Pope John Paul II's paint exhibition for the first centenary of S.Maria degli Angeli parish church in Rome, Sep.28, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI talks with former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger (L) during a private audience at his summer residence of Castelgandolfo outside Rome September 28, 2006
 

Thursday, September 28 will mark the anniversary of the sudden death of Pope John Paul I, who had succeeded Pope Paul VI just 33 days earlier.

African Catholic archbishop and faith healer Milingo has been excommunicated after defying the Vatican by ordaining four married men as bishops, the Vatican said on 26 September.

Pope Benedict XVI smiles as his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein (L) changes his skull cap during the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 27, 2006.

Archbishop John P. Foley (L), President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, speaks during a press conference for the presentation of Catholic TV World Meeting in Madrid (Oct.10-13, 2006), at the Vatican, Sep 26, 2006. On the right Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office.

Pope Benedict (C) standing with Muslims ambassadors and Italian Islamic leaders in a room at his summer residence, Castelgandolfo, outside Rome, September 25, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI smiles to the faithful during the Angelus in his summer palace in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, Sunday Sept. 24, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the new Vatican Secretary of State during an exclusive interview with a catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana at the Vatican, Sep. 21, 2006. File photo Sep.14, 2006.

Pope Benedict, flanked by bodyguards, leaves at the end of his general audience at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican September 20, 2006.

Rome's Mayor Walter Veltroni reaches out with other religious leaders at the end of an interfaith meeting at city hall in Rome September 19, 2006.

The front page of the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano displays an address by Pope Benedict XVI , written in Arabic (C), Italian, French and English, in the Vatican September 18, 2006.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian bishops' conference, speaks during the Meeting of the Permanent Council of CEI, Rome, Sep. 18, 2006.

A statue is silhouetted through one of the fountains in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican September 18, 2006. The Vatican opened its secret archives on the papacy of Pius XI between 1922 and 1939 on Monday and said unjust opinions concerning its relations with Jews in the pre-World War Two period would be overturned.

A policeman searches a tourist with a metal detector at the entrance to Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican September 18, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone , the new Vatican Secretary of State, celebrates a mass in St.Maria Ausiliatrice Rome , Sep.17, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI raises his arms as he looks at the rainy sky, during the Angelus address to the faithful in hi summer palace in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, Sunday Sept. 17, 2006.

New Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, left, embraces Pope Benedict at his summer residence in Castelgandolfo, northern Rome, September 15, 2006.

Italian Cardinal Tarciso Bertone arrives Pope Benedict XVI 's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, before a private audience with the pontiff Sep. 15, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI presides over a meeting with the permanent priests and deacons held on September 14, 2006 in Saint Mary and Saint Corbiniano's Cathedral in Freising, where he and his brother Georg were together ordained priests in 1951
 

Pope Benedict XVI prays inside Regensburg's Alte Kapelle, or Old Chapel, where he blessed the chapel's new organ, in Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006
 

Pope Benedict XVI kneels as he and his brother the Rev. Georg Ratzinger visit their parents' and sister's grave at the Ziegetsdorf cemetery in Pentling just out of Regensburg, southern Germany, Wednesday Sept. 13, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI attends an ecumenic vesper in the cathedral in Regensburg, southern Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates a papal Mass at the Islinger field in Regensburg, southern Germany, some 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) northeast of Munich, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI presides over the mass in the town of Altoetting September 11, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to visitors and pilgrims from a balcony in Munich September 10, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates mass at the Church of Our Lady 'Frauenkirche' in Munich September 10, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI looks on during a mass in Munich September 10, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) in Munich Residenz, September 9, 2006.

German President Horst Koehler, right, and Pope Benedict XVI, left, listen to the national anthems at the airport in Munich on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI boards an airplane in Rome's Ciampino military airport, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, on his way to Munich, in Germany for a six-day apostolic visit.

Meeting of ACLI association "Vita nuova, vita felice", Orvieto, Sep. 8, 2006. Mons. Vincenzo Paglia speaks during de opening ceremony.

Interreligious Conference "For a World of Peace" at Assisi 4th - 5th Sept. 2006. Prof. Andrea Riccardi lights the peace toarch during the Final Ceremony, Sep. 5, 2006.

Mons. Gabriele Giordano Caccia (R), Father Federico Lombardi (C) and Mons. Pietro Parolin (L) during the press conference for the presentation of Card. Angelo Sodano's last book "Il Lievito del Vangelo. La presenza della Santa Sede nella vita dei popoli" at the Vatican, Sep 7, 2006.

Msgr. James P. Green, the new nuncio to South Africa and Namibia and apostolic delegate to Botswana, is ordained an archbishop in St. Peter's Basilica by Card.Angelo Sodano, Sept. 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI wears a 'saturno hat', inspired by the ringed planet Saturn, to shield himself from the sun as he kisses a girl during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006.

Card. Paul Poupard attends a mass with Fraternitè monastique de Jerusalem, Trinità dei Monti, Rome, Sept. 3, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI prays in front of the 'Veronica's Veil' during a visit to the Saint Veil monastery in Manoppello, central Italy, September 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI is greeted in his car by the faithful, during the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday Aug. 30, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI named Angelo Bagnasco as a new archbishop of Genoa on Tuesday to replace Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Aug. 29, 2006.

Sean Patrick Cardinal O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, attends a Mass for the inauguration of 83rd General Chapter of the Capuchin Order at the International College of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Rome, Aug. 28, 2006.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) leaves Pope Benedict XVI 's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, after a private meeting with the pontiff August 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI claps to the faithful during Angelus prayer from his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome August 27, 2006.

Pilgrims pray near the 'Veronica's Veil' at the Saint Veil monastery in Manoppello, central Italy, August 25, 2006. Pope Benedict XVI will make a pilgrimage to a remote monastery in the Abruzzo region, east of Rome, next week to visit the mysterious icon which many believe shows the face of Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI is kissed by a faithful during his weekly audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, 23 August 2006.

Luigi Negri, Bishop of the San Marino-Montefeltro diocese in Northern Italy, speaks during a conference in the "Communion and Liberation Meeting", Rimini, Italy, Aug.21, 2006.

Msgr. Gabriele Amorth speaks during a conference in the "Communion and Liberation Meeting", Rimini, Italy, Aug.21, 2006.

 

Members of Communion and Liberation, a Catholic lay movement, waits for the inauguration of the weekly prayer and discussion meeting in Rimini, Italy, Aug. 20, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI during Angelus prayer from his summer residence, in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome August 20, 2006
 

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful during the weekly general audience in his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithfull in front of the small church in Castelgandolfo, his summer residence in the outskirts of Rome, 15 August 2006, after celebrating a mass to mark Assumption Day, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pope Benedict waves to the faithful during Angelus prayer from his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome August 13, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI floor reflects during his weekly general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican August 9, 2006. Pope Benedict on Wednesday backed moves to create a ceasefire in Lebanon and said reason and goodwill could end the 'tragic conflict' in the Middle East.

Pope Benedict XVI looks on from his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, during Angelus prayer August 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks to German journalists during his interview with several German radio and television stations at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo on the outskirts of Rome August 5,2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he leaves the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican August 2, 2006.

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Archbishop of Vienna, attends a Holy Mass in Saint Peter's Square, August 1, 2006. Over 40,000 boys and girls from 17 countries attend the event called "Spiritus vivificat", an international pilgrimage to Rome organized by the CIM (Coetus Internationalis Ministrantium), an association of European pastoral volunteers founded in 1960.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during Angelus prayer from his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, July 30, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI is followed by, from left, Bishop of Aosta Giuseppe Anfossi, his aide Rev. Georg Gaenswein, second from left behind pontiff, Vatican head of security Domenico Giani, second from right, and Bishop Paolo De Nicolo` as he leaves Les Combes d'Introd, in the Aosta Valley region, Italy, Friday, July 28, 2006.

This photo relased today, July 28, 2006 by Vatican newspaper L'osservatore Romano shows Pope Benedict XVI during a walk in Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps.

Vatican Seceretary of State Angelo Sodano, right, shakes hands with Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Saniora (L) during a private audience at the Vatican, July 26, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) receives a soccer shirt from Ivrea soccer team at Les Combes, an Italian alpine resort in the northern region of Val d'Aosta, at the end of his walk 25 July 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby during his summer retreat at Les Combes d'Introd, in Val d'Aosta region of northern Italy, July 25, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI prays for peace in Rehemes Saint Georges, July 23, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI looks on during the Angelus prayer in Les Combes d'Introd, in the Aosta Valley region, Italy, Sunday, July 23, 2006.

This photo relased today, July 24, 2006 by Vatican newspaper L'osservatore Romano shows Pope Benedict XVI gesturing during a break in Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps.

This photo, taken July 21, 2006 and released today, July 22, 2006 by Vatican newspaper L'osservatore Romano shows Pope Benedict XVI during a walk in Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks with jourlanists as he come back from a walk in Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps, July 21, 2006.

General view of Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps, July 21, 2006. The places of Pope Benedict XVI's vacation in the Italian Alps.

This photo, taken July 18, 2006 and released today, July 19, 2006 by Vatican newspaper L'osservatore Romano shows Pope Benedict XVI during a visit to the Maison of st. Bernard in Martigny, Swiss Alps.

Vatican Seceretary of State Angelo Sodano, right, meets at the Vatican, Wednesday, July 19, 2006, with Saad Hariri, son of assassinated Lebanon's premier Rafik Hariri.

Pope Benedict XVI, wearing sun glasses, smiles as he come back from a walk in Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps, July 18, 2006.

Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, Archpriest of Saint Paul out of the wall, attends a mass to take position in his titular church of Santa Maria in Portico in Rome, July 17, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI plays the piano of his summer residence of Les Combes d'Introd, in the Aosta Valley region, northern Italy, in this photo released on July 17, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks during Angelus prayer in Les Combes, at the Valle d'Aosta, in northern Italy, July 16, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks to a journalist as he come back from a walk in Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps, July 14, 2006.

This photo, taken Thursday, July 13, 2006 and released today, July 14, 2006 by Vatican newspaper L'osservatore Romano shows Pope Benedict XVI during a walk in Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps.

Card Suquia Goicoechea Angel, Archbishop Emeritus of Madrid,died in his particular home in San Sebastian, at the age of 89, on Thursday July 13, 2006.

Zambian Archibishop Emmanuel Milingo, here in a file photo, said: "Married Priesthood Now" during a press conference in Washington, July 12, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI and his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein during a walk in Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta in the Italian Alps, July 12, 2006.

Father Federico Lombardi, the new Vatican spokesman, speaks during a press conference for the presentation of the Consolidated Financial Statement of the Holy See for the fiscal year 2005 in the Holy See press office at the Vatican July 12, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI , in white, arrives in Les Combes d'Introd, in the Aosta Valley region, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2006.

Pope Benedict had accepted today July 11, 2006 Navarro-Valls' resignation and had appointed Father Federico Lombardi, the Jesuit director of Vatican Radio and Vatican Television, to succeed him.

Pope Benedict during the World Meeting of Families in Valencia July 9, 2006.

Benedict XVI meets Bishops of Croazia Episcopal Conference during a private audience at the Vatican, July 06, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims at the end of his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican July 5, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid (spain) during a private audience at the Vatican, July 3, 2006.

Cardinal Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino, Archbishop of Caracas attends a mass to take position in his titular church of Santa Maria ai Monti in Rome, July 02, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI wawes to pilgrims from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer at the Vatican Sunday, July 2, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI holds his pastoral as he leads a solemn mass to celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican June 29, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) looks inside a new Volvo XC90 sport utility vehicle, with U.S. Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, after it was presented to him at the Vatican June 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves while arriving to hold his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican June 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets President of Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at his private library on June 26, 2006, in Vatican City.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims from his studio's window overlooking St.Peter's Square at the Vatican during the Angelus prayer, Sunday, June 25, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Frà Andrew Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta during a private audience at the Vatican, June 23, 2006.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone of Italy March 25,2004 file photo.
Pope Benedict on Thursday named Bertone to be the Vatican's next secretary of state, the number two job in the Holy See, whose holder is often dubbed the 'deputy pope.' Bertone, the 71-year-old archbishop of northwestern Genoa,will succeed Cardinal Angelo Sodano, 78, who is retiring after 15 years in the post.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims while he leaving from his weekly general audience at the Vatican June 21, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the pilgrims from his studio's window overlooking St.Peter's Square at the Vatican during the Angelus prayer, Sunday, June 18, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets current United Nations General Assembly president and Sweden's Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson (L) at the Vatican June 17, 2006.

President Oscar Arias Sanchez (L) of Costa Rica meets Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican June 16, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI looks at the monstrance on an open vehicle from St. John at the Lateran Basilica to St. Mary Major Basilica, in Rome, Thursday, June 15, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves pilgrims during his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican June 14, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI is presented with a gift from Jurgen Ruttgers (C), Minister President of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, during a private meeting at the Vatican June 12, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves from his studio's window overlooking St.Peter's Square at the Vatican during the Angelus prayer, Sunday, June 11, 2006.

Benedict XVI meets Mr. Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro (L), President of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies during a private audience at the Vatican, June 09, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Dr. Norbert Lammert, President of the Deutscher Bundestag during a private audience at the Vatican, June 08, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican June 7, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks during the opening day of a diocesan church convention in St. John in Lateran's Basilica, in Rome, Monday, June 5, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI spreads incense as he leads the Pentecost Sunday mass in San Peter's Square at the Vatican June 4, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead a liturgy of Vespers on the eve of Pentecost Sunday in San Peter's Square at the Vatican June 3, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets British Prime Minister Tony Blair during a private audience at the Vatican, June 3, 2006.

Prayer organized by the Focolare Movement in the Church of S.Cuore Immacolato di Maria in preparation for the Vigil of Pentecost with the Holy Father, Rome, June 2, 2006.

The Spanish priest Julian Carron, leader of Communion an Liberation, attends a mass in preparation for the Vigil of Pentecost in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, Rome, June 2, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI received a group of 1,200 journalists and technicians from the Italian daily "Avvenire," the television channel Sat 2000, and other communications media belonging to the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) at the Vatican on June 2,2006.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet (L) and Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko pose during 2nd World Congress of ecclesial movements and new communities, Rocca di Papa, June 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI addresses faithful and pilgrims in the Vatican gardens on the occasion of the closure of the month dedicated to the Virgin Mary Wednesday, May 31, 2006.

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop of Hong Kong attends a mass to take position in his titular church of Santa Maria Madre del Redentore in Rome, May 31, 2006.

2nd World Congress of ecclesial movements and new communities Rocca di Papa, May 31-June 2, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks with Card. Eduardo Martínez Somalo during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 31, 2006.

S.E.Josef Clemens speaks during a press conference for the presentation of "Second World Congress of ecclesial movements and new communities " at the Vatican, May 30, 2006.

Card. Agostino Vallini attends a mass to take position in his titular church of San Pier Damiani in Rome, Saturday, May 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the media before leaving Krakow's airport on his way to Rome May 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI walks through the entrance of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, in Oswiecim, May 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates an open air mass at Krakow's Blonie May 28, 2006.

French Cardinal Albert Vanhoye attends a mass to take position in his titular church of Santa Maria della Mercede in Rome, Saturday, May 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the youth in front of a huge Jesus Christ portrait in Krakow's Blonia park May 27, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI addresses believers at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki in suburbs of Krakow May 27, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets the faithful at Wadowice May 27, 2006. Pope Benedict paid an emotional visit to the birthplace of his predecessor John Paul on Saturday and told Poles he was praying that their favourite son would move swiftly towards Catholic sainthood.

Pope Benedict XVI kneels in front of the picture of the Black Madonna displayed on the altar during his visit to the Marian shrine of Jasna Gora at the town of Czestochowa, Poland, Friday, May 26, 2006.

Pope Benedict and Polish Cardinal Glemp celebrate an open air mass in Warsaw May 26, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) with the President of the Polish Ecumenical Council Mons. Jeremiasz Anchimuk (L), during the ecumenical meeting in the Lutheran church of Holy Trinity in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday May 25, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets people after arrival at Warsaw airport May 25, 2006.

Mgr Anthony Li Duan, archbishop of Xian, one of the most important figures in today’s Chinese Church, died on Wednesday May 24, 2006.

A man walks in front of a poster showing the picture of Pope Benedict XVI in central Warsaw. Pope Benedict XVI will visit Poland from May 25 to May 28 for the first time on his second trip abroad.

Pope Benedict XVI's skull cap is blown away in a gust of wind prior to his weekly general audience in St.Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 24, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI poses with Sergey Dmitrievich Stanishev (L), President of Bulgaria and Galaktior (R), metropolite of Stara Zagoba during an audience in his private library at the Vatican, May 23, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with President of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr.Branko Crvenko during a private audience at the Vatican, May 22, 2006.

Imam of Rome, Mahmoud Ahmed Sheweita is dead today in Rome, May 21, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI is presented with credentials of the new Spanish ambassador to the Holy See Francisco Vazquez, right, at the Vatican Saturday May 20, 2006.

Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Kirill during a press conference in the Russian Embassy in Rome, May 19, 2006.

Pope John Paul II blesses Father Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legion of Christ, during a special audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican , November 30, 2004
 

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk (not seen) consacrates the first Russian Orthodox church of Saint Catherina in Rome, May 19, 2006.

 

Pope Benedict XVI meets Queen Margrethe II of Denmark during an audience in his private library at the Vatican May 19, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Kirill during a private audience at the Vatican Monday, May 18, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI meets with Poland's Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz during the latter's visit to the Vatican May 18, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the 56th conference of Italian bishops general assembly at the Vatican May 18, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child as he leads his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican May 17, 2006
 

Card. Camillo Camillo Ruini, President of the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI), attends the 56th General Assembly of the CEI, at the Vatican, May 15, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI is seen with Enrique Bolanos Geyer, President of Nicaragua, during a private audience at the Vatican Monday, May 15, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves from his studio's window overlooking St.Peter's Square at the Vatican during the Regina Coeli prayer, Sunday, May 14, 2006.

Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rode, Pro-Prefect of Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, attends a mass to take position in his titular church of S. Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella in Rome, Saturday, May 13, 2006.

A Fatima statue, ferried by a helicopter, arrives near castel Sant'Angelo (unseen in the picture) in Rome Saturday, May 13, 2006.

Roses left by a faithful near the marble plate set in Saint Peter Square for 25th anniversary of assassination attempt on John Paul II, Rome, May 13, 2006.

Card. Ivan Dias (L), Archbishop of Bombay speaks with Msgr. Liberio Andreatta (R), director-general of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, before a preyer in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, May 13, 2006. This afternoon a statue of Our Lady of Fatima will return to the Vatican this Saturday, 25 years after the attempt on Pope John Paul II's life.

An Italian Policewoman shows the marble plate set in Saint Peter Square for 25th anniversary of assassination attempt on John Paul II, Rome, May 12, 2006.
 

Canadian singer Jeremy Gabriel stands next to Cardinal Marc Ouellet and presents the rosary he received from Pope Benedict XVI after meeting and singing for the pontiff at the Vatican , Thursday May 11, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI talks with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, left, during a private audience at the Vatican, Thursday, May 11, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI presides over his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Wednesday, May 10, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI talks with the Arch Duke Henri of Luxembourg (L) and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Teresa (C) during an audience in his private library at the Vatican May 8, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI attends the ordination ceremony of new priests at Saint Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2006 in Vatican City.

Swiss Army Band play a little concert from St. Peter's square as Pope Benedict XVI sends his greetings to them at the end of his Regina Coeli prayer at the Vatican May 7, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with the President of the Swiss Confederation Moritz Leuenberger during their private audience at the Vatican, Saturday, May 6, 2006.

One of the new thirty three new recruits of the Vatican 's elite Swiss Guard gestures during a swearing in ceremony in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican May 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with the President of the Swiss Confederation Moritz Leuenberger during their private audience at the Vatican, Saturday, May 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets some of the new members of the Swiss Guards corps during a special Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican , Saturday, May 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets President of European Commission Jose Manuel Durao Barroso at his private library, May 5, 2006, in Vatican City.

Swiss Guards lead a group of veterans, who arrived on a long march from Switzerland, into Saint Peter's square at the Vatican May 4, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby during his weekly general audience in St.Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 3, 2006.

Cardinal Raul Francisco Primatesta, the emeritus archbishop of Cordoba, died Monday, May 1, 2006, at age 87. File photo.

Prof.Mary Ann Glendon (L), President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro Valls (R) during a press conference at the end of XII Session of Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at the Vatican, May 2, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful as he arrives at the Virgin Mary of the Divine Love Sanctuary in Rome, Monday, May 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves the faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square during his Regina Coeli prayer at the Vatican, Rome April 30, 2006.

Former Swiss Guards cross the Historical Town Center of Acquapendente along the Ancient Via Francigena near Rome, April 28, 2006. To celebrate their 500th anniversary, Swiss Guards are 160 kilometres walk to Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI meets British prime minister's wife, Cherie Blair during a private audience at the Vatican, April 28, 2006.

Uwe Michael Lang (L), Bishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige (C) and Rev. Prof. Nicola Bux (R) pose before press conference for the Italian Version of "Rivolti al Signore" by Uwe Michael Lang with a preface by Joseph Ratzinger, Rome, April 27, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , during the weekly general audience Wednesday April 26, 2006. Recalling the Chernobyl nuclear accident, the pontiff urged world leaders Wednesday to ensure that all forms of energy are in the peaceful service of humanity
 

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square during his Regina Coeli prayer at the Vatican, Rome April 23, 2006

Pope Benedict XVI , center in white, arrives at the Auditorium to attend a concert in Rome, Friday, April 21, 2006 in his honor, part of a series of celebrations marking the birth of Rome, which legend says was founded on April 21 in 753 B.C.

Card. Francesco Marchisano, Archpriest of St. Peter Basilica, speaks during a Press Conference for V Centenary of Saint Peter Basilica at the Vatican, 20 April, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during his weekly general audience on the first anniversary of his election as pontiff, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 19, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI waves during his Easter Monday Regina Coeli prayer in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, April 17, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI uses an incense burner as he leads the Easter mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 16, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI attends the Easter vigil mass at Saint Peter's Basilica April 15, 2006 in Vatican City.

Pope Benedict XVI leads the traditional Via Crucis ( Way of the Cross ) Good Friday service at Rome's Colosseum April 14, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI presides over the ceremony of the Good Friday Passion of the Lord Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican , April 14, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI washes the feet of one of 12 priests during the Holy Thursday mass in the Basilica of St John in Lateran in Rome, April 13, 2006, to commemorate Christ's gesture of humility to his apostles at the Last Supper.

Pope Benedict XVI breaths in from an amphora containing blessed oil as he leads the Chrismal mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 13, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the pilgrims during his weekly general audience in St Peter's square at the Vatican, 12 April 2006.

Card. Stafford attends the Penitentiary celebration in the Saint Peter Basilica at the Vatican, April 11, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI and Mr. Marek Jurek, President of Polish Parlament, during a private audience at the Vatican, April 10, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves the faithful during the special audience with with students from 200 universities throughout the world (UNIV 2006) in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, April 10, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI holds a palm branch as he leads the Palm Sunday mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 9, 2006.

From Left to Right Federal MP Malcom Turnbull, Archbishop of Sydney, Card. George Pell, NSW Premier Morris Iemma and Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney during the Press Conference for the presentation of the Australian World Youth Day 2008, Rome, April 9, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets a member of Togolese president Faure Gnassingbe's delegation during an audience in his private library at the Vatican, 08 April 2006.
 

Dancers perform in front of Pope Benedict XVI during a meeting with young people in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with Mr. Shimon Peres in a private audience at the Vatican, April 6, 2006.

Wind blows during Pope Benedict XVI's general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 5, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI leads a special mass to mark the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican April 3, 2006.

Worshippers gather in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 2, 2006, to pray and commemorate the late Pope John Paul on the the first anniversary of his death.

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (L) and his wife pray in front of the tomb of the late Pope John Paul II during a special service held in the grotto of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 2, 2006. Pope John Paul II died a year ago today.

Pope Benedict XVI greets faithful from his window overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Sunday, April 2, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with the Belgian King Albert II and Queen Paola in a private audience at the Vatican, Saturday, April 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI watches the debut of a film on the life of the late Pope John Paul II, during a special screening at the Vatican March 30, 2006.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard. 500 years of History, Art and Life' exhibition, during its inauguration at thne Vatican , Tuesday, March 29, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI blesses a boy as he leaves Saint Peter's Square after his weekly general audience at the Vatican March 29, 2006.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard. 500 years of History, Art and Life' exhibition, during its presentation to the press at the Vatican , Tuesday, March 28, 2006. S.E. Mons. Mauro Piacenza - Col.Elmar Th.Meder - Francesco Buranelli
 

Cardinal Patrich O'Malley, center, greets faithful before Pope Benedict XVI's audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican , Monday, March 27, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the pilgrims as he arrives at the parish of "God the mercifull Father" in Rome, March 26, 2006.
 

Newly-elevated Cardinal William Levada holds his staff at a mass celebrated to take possession of his titular church Santa Maria in Domnica alla Navicella, in Rome, Sunday March 26, 2006.

Competitors run past St. Peter Basilica during the Rome Marathon, March 26, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI addresses the faithful from the window of his private apartments during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican March 26, 2006.

Newly elevated Cardinal Sean O'Malley (R) of the U. S. receives his ring from Pope Benedict XVI during a special mass in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican March 25, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI (C) passes newly elevated cardinals on his way to lead a special mass in Saint Peter Square at the Vatican March 25, 2006. Pope Benedict and 15 new cardinals he elevated to the highest ranks of the Roman Catholic Church paid tribute on Saturday to the late Pope John Paul , who died nearly a year ago, recalling his public suffering.

Krakow Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz (R) is elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI during a ceremony at the Vatican March 24, 2006. Pope Benedict installed his first group of new cardinals on Friday, elevating a familiar face and some surprising choices to the exclusive Roman Catholic club that advises him and will one day elect his successor.

New cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk, Archbishop of Seoul is pictured during the traditionnal courtesy visit, 24 March 2006 in Vatican, at the consistory. Fifteen new cardinals, including 12 who are likely to elect his successor, are elevated to the status of cardinal. At 63, Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino is one of the youngest cardinals.

A view of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican during a consistory led by Pope Benedict XVI , Friday, March 24, 2006. Fifteen prelates from around the world join the elite College of Cardinals on Friday, becoming the newest advisers to the pope and will one day be called on to elect his successor.
 

Pope Benedict XVI reads his message as he gathers with Cardinals and Bishops at the Synod Hall at the Vatican, Thursday, March 23, 2006. The pontiff convened the College of Cardinals for the first time since his election last year, inviting its members to share their concerns about the challenges facing the Catholic Church before adding 15 new members to their ranks.
 

Pope Benedict XVI looks on as he arrives to preside over his weekly general audience in St-Peter square at the Vatican Wednesday, March 22, 2006.

Pope Benedictus XVI meets Nerses Bedros XIX (R), Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholic Church during a private audience, private library at the Vatican, March 20, 2006.

Monsignor Slawomir Oder, the Catholic Church official in charge of promoting the cause to declare the late Pope John Paul II a saint of the Church, poses at his office in Rome October 18, 2005.

Pope Benedict XVI adjust his cap on the head during a mass for workers in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 19, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI addresses the faithful from the window of his private apartments during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican March 19, 2006.

Protesters march to Navona Square in central Rome March 18, 2006 in a demonstration marking the third anniversary since the invasion of Iraq . Thousands of anti-war protesters marched through Rome on Saturday, three years after the invasion of Iraq, calling for U.S. and British troops to pull out.

Pope Benedict XVI, center, poses during a private audience with members of Pontificial Council for social communications, Clementina Hall at the Vatican, March 17, 2006.

A new book by Pope John Paul II's longtime personal physician recounts the pontiff's final days and minutes, saying doctors realized on a few hours before his death that further medical intervention John Paul died April 2 at 9:37 p.m. after slipping into a coma two hours earlier, Dr. Renato Buzzonetti writes in his book "Let me go.", Rome, March 16, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI poses with American Jewish Committee during a private audience at the Vatican March 16, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI looks on as he arrives to lead his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican March 15, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI shakes hands with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (L) during a private audience at the Vatican March 13, 2006.

Rome's chief rabbi Riccardo di Segni (L) is greeted by secretary-general of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy Abdellah Redouane as he makes his first visit to the main mosque in Rome March 13, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI poses with James T. Morris (R), UN World Food Programme Executive Director, during a private audience at the Vatican March 13, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI addresses the faithful from the window of his private apartments during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican March 12, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI prays as he leads a special audience to celebrate the 4th European University Students Day in the Nervi hall at the Vatican March 11, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI poses with Republic of San Marino (Italy) Leaders Mr.Claudio Muccioli (L) and Mr. Antonello Bacciocchi (R), them ledies and staff during a private audience at the Vatican, March 11, 2006.

S.E.Mons Nicolas Cheong-Jin-Suk (L), Archbishop of Seoul and Card. Crescenzio Sepe (L), Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples during the International Congress for 40th Anniversary of the Council Decree Ad Gentes, Rome, March 10, 2006.

Card. Crescenzio Sepe (L), Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and Prof. Ambrogio Spreafico (R), Rector of Pontifical Urbaniana University during the International Congress for 40th Anniversary of the Council Decree Ad Gentes, Rome, March 9, 2006.

Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, speaks at the "Paths to Peace" conference sponsored by the St. Louis of France Cultural Center in Rome March 9,2006.

 

Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, March 5, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI is hugged by a boy at the beginning of an audience with about 8,000 members of an Italian Christian entrepreneurial association in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, March 4, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI sits between Vatican Radio journalists Emanuela Campanile, left, and Luca Collodi during a live broadcast in the 'Nuova Regia 3' studio, at the Vatican Radio studios, at the Vatican, Friday, March 3, 2006. The visit was scheduled to mark the 75th anniversary of Vatican Radio, which broadcasts in 40 languages.
 

Pope Benedict XVI during a private audience with Roman Clergy in the Blessing Hall at the Vatican, March 02, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) spreads ash on Cardinal Josef Tonko as he leads a solemn celebration in Santa Sabina Basilica for Ash Wednesday in Rome March 1, 2006. Celebrating his first Ash Wednesday since becoming Pope, the Pontiff said Christians should use the 40-day Lenten season to reflect on their unending fight against evil which is done using the weapons of prayer, fasting and penitence.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby during an open-air general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican Wednesday, March 1, 2006.
 

Mons. Agostino Marchetto (L), Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, Card. Stephen Fumio Hamao (C), President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Father Ciro Benedettini (R) during a press conference for the presentation of the document "The Pastoral Care of Rom" at the Vatican, Feb. 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI, center, poses with members of Pontifical Academy for Life, Clementina Hall at the Vatican, Feb.27, 2006.

Pope Benedictus XVI meets Bishop of Fanarion S.E. Agathanghelos (C) Director of "Apostoliki Diakonia" Theologic College (Greek Orthodox Church) during a private audience at the Vatican, Feb.27, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI prays during the visit at the Roman Major Pontifical Seminary for Madonna della Fiducia's feast at San Giovanni Laterano in Rome, February 25, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI received Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-chief of Canada, and her daughter Marie-Eden (6 years) during a private audience at the Vatican February 27, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican , Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006. Benedict XVI condemned the bombing of a Shiite mosque in Iraq and the retaliation that has ensued, saying that God will severely judge those who kill in the name of religion.

Pope Benedict XVI's hands hold a libretto during the concert by the Rome Diocese's choir for Madonna della Fiducia's feast at the Roman Major Pontifical Seminary, San Giovanni Laterano in Rome, February 25, 2006.

Bishop of Groningen Mons. Willem Jacobus Eijk (1st L), Adriano Bompiani, MD, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (sndL), S.E. Mons. Elio Sgreccia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life (C), Father Ciro Benedettini (2nd R) and Prof. Kevin T. FitzGerald (1st R) during a press conference for the presentation of International Congress "The Human Embryo before Implantation" at the Vatican, Feb. 24, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) shakes hands with the President of Albania Alfred Moisiu during a private audience at the Vatican February 24, 2006

Pope Benedict XVI named 15 new cardinals during the weekly general audience at the Vatican Wednesday Feb. 22, 2006. In this photo collection 10 of 15 new cardinals.

Card. Camillo Ruini attends the mass for the first anniversary of Fr. Giussani's death in the Church of S.Maria Maggiore, Rome, February 22, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI looks up during his weekly Wednesday general audience at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican February 22, 2006. Pope Benedict named on Wednesday 15 new members of the college of cardinals, the body that helps run the Roman Catholic Church and will one day elect a new pontiff.
 

U.S. Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, who oversaw Roman Catholic Church finances for 18 years and was linked to a major Italian banking scandal, has died in the United States, Feb.21,2006.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the general director of Vatican Radio, speaks during a press conference at the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 21,2006. 75° anniversary of Vatican Radio, new ways for the service of the church and perspectives.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Morocco Ambassador Mr.Ali Achour in his private library February 20, 2006 in Vatican City.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful from the window of his private apartments during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican February 20, 2006.
 

Pope Benedictus XVI meets Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, superior general of the Society of Jesus, during the private audience with the writers of "La Civiltà Cattolica" at the Vatican, Feb.17, 2006.

Card. Angelo Sodano meets Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos (2nd L), Spanish Foreign Minister at the Vatican, Feb.17, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI has named Palestinian Bishop Elias Chacour as a new bishop of Saint Giovanni D'Acri, Feb 17, 2005.

Manifestation to protest the publication of cartoons of Islam's prophet in European newspapers, Paris, Feb.11, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his wife in his private library February 16, 2006 in Vatican City.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during his weekly Wednesday general audience at the S.Peter Basilica at the Vatican February 15, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI attends a meeting with Cardinals and Bishops of Roman Curia in the Bologna Hall at the Vatican, Feb.13, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful from the window of his private apartments during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican February 12, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI holds a candle as he blesses the faithful at the end of a Mass for the sick in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, February 11, 2006.

The Pope's vicar for Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, holds incense the coffin of Rev. Andrea Santoro during his funeral mass in Rome's main basilica, St. John Lateran, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. Santoro, 60, died after he was shot twice in the back Sunday while praying in his church along the Black Sea coast in Turkey.
 

Pope Benedict XVI meets U.S. first lady Laura Bush during a private audience in the pontiff's private library at the Vatican February 9, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI during the weekly general audience in Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday Feb.8, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006. The pontiff issued a strong defense of the need to protect all human life Sunday, urging the faithful to develop a new respect for life even when it is 'sick or damaged.''

Pope Benedict XVI prays in S.Anna church at the Vatican, Feb.5, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI holds a candle as he leads a mass of the annual 'Candelora', a feast of candles, in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 2, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during his weekly Wednesday general audience at Paul VI Hall at the Vatican February 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI poses with Mr. Dieter Althaus, President of Thuringen (Germany) during a private audience in the pontiff's private library at the Vatican, January 30, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI looks at a white dove released by children from the window of his private apartments at the end of the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, January 29, 2006. The Pope delivered a message of peace on Sunday, flanked by two children who released two doves.

Pope Benedict XVI, center, poses with members of the Vatican tribunal during the opening ceremony of the judicial year at the Vatican, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI shows a present to the Greece's President Karolos Papoulias during a private audience in the pontiff's private library at the Vatican, January 28, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with delegates of the Churches, Bishops’ Conferences, communities and ecumenical organisations in Europe reunited in Rome for Third European Ecumenical Assembly, Clementina Hall at the Vatican, Gen.26, 2006.

Poland's President Lech Kaczynski (L) kisses Pope Benedict XVI's hand at the end of a private audience in the pontiff's private library at the Vatican January 26, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims at St Paul's Basilica during the vespers. Pope Benedict XVI released his first encylical, proclaiming the moral force of the Roman Catholic Church and vowing it would "not remain on the sidelines" in the fight for social justice.

Pope Benedict XVI signs his first encyclical "Deus Caritas Est" in the Pontiff library at the Vatican Jan.23, 2006. The Pontiff released his first encyclical entitled "God is Love" in which he explored the relationship between God's love for mankind and the church's work for charity.

 

Cardinal Renato Martino showes Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical during a media conference at the Holy See press room, January 25, 2006 in Vatican City. Vatican delivered on today Benedict's first encyclical "Deus Caritas Est", a pastoral letter written to all clergy and church members.
 

Pope Benedict XVI gestures to the faithful gathered for the weekly general audience in Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday Jan. 25, 2006.

 

Meeting of the delegates of the Churches, Bishops’ Conferences, communities and ecumenical organisations in Europe Rome, Italy, 25th January 2006

Cardinal Walter Kasper speaks during the meeting of the delegates of the Churches, Bishops’ Conferences, communities and ecumenical organisations in Europe Rome, Italy, 24 th January 2006
 

Press Conference for the Launch of Third European Ecumenical Assembly, Rome, Gen.24, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI attends an audience with participants to the international congress on charity organised by the Holy See's Pontifical Council Cor Unum in the Clementina Hall at the Vatican, Gen.23, 2006.

An honor corps of Swiss Guards, in their full blue- and-yellow bloomered dress uniforms and red-plumed helmets, stand at attention in St. Peter's Squarea at the Vatican as Pope Benedict XVI addresses them at the end of the Angelus noon prayer he celebrated from his studio window, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano leads a special mass for Swiss Guards in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican January 22, 2006. Months of celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the elite corps, which is charged with the protection of the Pope and Vatican, will begin on Sunday.

SWISS GUARD SPECIAL
A Mass for the guards in the Sistine Chapel and a special blessing by Pope Benedict XVI, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006, will mark the day in 1506 that the Swiss mercenaries arrived in Rome and will start the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Pope's Swiss Guards.

YOU CAN SEE SWISS GUARDS SPECIAL ONLY SENDING AN E-mail TO:

alessia.giuliani@catholicpressphoto.com

object: SWISS GUARDS SPECIAL

EXCLUSIVE File photo - Mehmet Ali Agca (1st R) carried by Italian Police prison van during the Italian Police reconnoitring in Via della Conciliazione, Rome, after few weeks from his arrest for the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Square in this May 13, 1981. Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca returned to prison, hours after an appeals court ruled that he should serve more time for the killing of a Turkish journalist and other crimes, Friday, Jan 20, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI poses with the Ecumenic Delegation of Finland during a private audience at the Vatican, 19 January 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI recives a gift from Mr. Gunther H. Oettinger President of the regional parliament of Baden-Württemberg during a private audience at the Vatican, 19 January 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) watches an Italian circus troupe perform during his weekly general audience at the Vatican January 18, 2006. Pope Benedict said on Wednesday his long-awaited first encyclical will be published next week and that he hopes it can show Christians the proper relationship between erotic love and spiritual love.

Pope Benedict XVI receives Rome's Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, 16 January 2006 during a private audience at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) greets Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic and his wife Svetlana Vujanovic 16 January 2006 during a private audience at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI is shown during a meeting Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni and local administrators during an audience at the Clementina Hall January 12, 2006 in Vatican City.

Pope Benedict XVI during an audience for followers of a Catholic evangelizing community, at the Vatican Thursday Jan. 12, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI walks as his arrival for his weekly general audience, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006.
 

Pope Benedict XVI speach during a private audience at the Sala Regia at the Vatican for his annual "state of the world" speech Jan. 9,2006.

File photo - Pope John Paul II converses with his would-be assassin, Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca, in Agca's Rebibbia prison cell in Rome on Dec. 27, 1983. A Turkish court has approved the release of Agca, saying he has completed his prison term, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to a crowd gathered in St Peter's square during his Angelus blessing at the Vatican January 8, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI baptises a newborn at a special Baptism ceremony in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican January 8, 2006.

Man wearing costumes representing one of the Three Kings, or Magi, wave at Pope Pope Benedict XVI as he waves faithful from his studio's window, overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the feast of Epiphany, Friday, Jan. 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during Epiphany Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Friday, Jan. 6, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI visits the traditional Crib at the Roman Street Cleaners' Association headquarters in Rome January 5, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI poses for a group photo with the College of the pontiff's aides during an audience with the pontiff's closest aides, at the Clementine Hall at the Vatican, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd during his first audience of the new year at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican January 4, 2006. The Pope held his general audience in the Paul VI hall and the adjacent basilica

 

Card. Giorgio Maria Mejia officiates a solemn mass for the S.Giuseppe Maria Tomasi's anniversary in the S.Andrea della Valle Basilica, Rome, Gen.3, 2006.

A tourist walks past miniature clay sculptures displayed on the staircase of 'Santa Maria in Aracoeli' Basilica in Rome January 3, 2006. Five thousand sculptures personifying the children of the five continents were put on display to mark the 20th anniversary of 'The spirit of Assisi', a phrase coined by the late Pope John Paul II to describe the Catholic Church reaching out to those in need.
 

Pope Benedict XVI greets three boys dressed as Magi during solemn mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican January 1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI, framed by a Christmas tree donated from Austria, blesses the crowd gathered in St Peter's square during Angelus blessing at the Vatican Gen.1, 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI (L) prays in front of the traditional Crib in St Peter's square at the end of the Te Deum prayer in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 31, 2005.

Brother Alois during his meditation after the evening common prayer, Milan, Dec.29, 2005. Around 50,000 young people from all over Europe are arrived in Milan, Italy, from December 28, 2005 to January 1, 2006 in the 28th meeting "Pilgrimage of trust on earth" organized by the ecumenical community of Taize.

Pope Benedict XVI poses with a choral during an audience for 4.500 young singers (Pueri cantores) in Paul VI hall at the Vatican, 30 December 2005.

 

Pope Benedict XVI, wearing the camauro hat on his popemobile, kisses a child as he arrives for the traditional weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005.

Pope Benedict XVI, framed by metallic balls of a large Christmas tree, greets the crowd gathered in St Peter's square during his Angelus blessing at the Vatican December 26, 2005.
 

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims during his first Urbi et Orbi message (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican December 25, 2005.
 

Pope Benedict XVI during the midnight mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, December 25, 2005
 

Pope benedict XVI lights a peace candle at the window of his private apartment at the Vatican City, 24 December 2005, before celebrating midnight Mass.

Pope Benedict XVI receives Great Britain Ambassador to the Holy See S.E. Morshed Khan for a private audience in the Pontiff library at the Vatican Dec.23, 2005.

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa gives a meditation in the presence of Benedict XVI, Cardinals, Bishops and Prelates, Redemptoris Mater Chapel at the Vatican, Dec.23, 2005.
 

Pope Benedict XVI wears a red velvet cape trimmed in ermine during his an end-of-year speech to cardinals at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005.

Pope Benedict XVI, sporting a fur-trimmed hat in the rich red color of a Santa hat , waves to pilgrims upon his arrival in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005 for his weekly general audience. The red hat with white fur trimming is known in Italian as the 'camauro.' It was popular among pontiffs in the 17th century. More recently, it was used by Pope John XXIII, who was also buried with it in 1963.

The Vatican Christmas tree stands in the middle of Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican December 17, 2005 after a lighting up ceremony. The 30 meters (100 feet) high pine tree was donated to Pope Benedict XVI by the town of Afiesi, in the province of Upper Austria.

Pope Benedict XVI receives 'the light of Bethlehem' from an Austrian boy during a special audience at the Vatican December 17, 2005. The Christmas tree, a donation from Austria, will later be lit on the St-Peter's square.

Pope Benedict XVI prays at the end of a special mass for the Italian armed forces in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 16, 2005.
 

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to for a mass for Rome's university students in Saint Peter Basilica at the Vatican December 15, 2005.

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to celebrate his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican December 14, 2005.

Card. Angelo Sodano during the conference "Christianity and Islam, yesterday and today", Paolo VI hall, Lateran University, Rome, Dic. 13, 2005.

Card. Renato Raffaele Martino during the press conference for the presentation of his holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the celebration of the World day of Peace at the Vatican, Dec.13, 2005.

Nativity figures are displayed by pilgrims and faithful for Pope Benedict XVI to bless as he appears at his studio's window, top left, overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional Sunday's Angelus prayer, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005. Pope Benedict XVI said that Christmas festivities have been polluted by consumerism and suggested that assembling the Nativity scene in the home is an effective way of teaching the faith to children.

A worker checks the placement of the star high atop the Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square Dec. 10,2005
 

Pope Benedict XVI is cheered by participants in a meeting with the Roman clergy in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005
 

Pope Benedict XVI and Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski look at a gift the pontiff received from Kwasniewski during their meeting in the pontiff's private library at the Vatican, Friday, Dec. 9, 2005. Poland's outgoing president paid a farewell visit to the Vatican on Friday, assuring Pope Benedict XVI that Poles are eagerly awaiting his visit next spring.

Pope Benedict shakes hands with Ecuatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo during their meeting at the Vatican December 9, 2005.

A file photo of Cardinal Scheffczyk Leo. Munich Cardinal Leo Scheffczyk has died, his office said Friday Dec. 9, 2005. He was 85. No details were immediately given as to the cause of his death. The conservative theologian was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.