Pope scrambling to 'restore trust' in the church following Vatican leaks
The Pope has called for a series of meetings to "restore trust" in the church after documents exposing corruption in the Catholic Church were leaked.
Global anti-abuse conference set for the Vatican
Catholic leaders from around the world will meet next week for a conference to combat child abuse which will include a penitential service.
Pope Benedict XVI in TV talk show debut
The Pope took part in a chat show on Friday, addressing Côte d'Ivoire and Iraqi Christians, but avoiding scandals that have rocked Catholicism.
Pope 2.0: Vatican launches Facebook application
Web surfers can now send virtual postcards of Pope Benedict XVI to their Facebook friends or follow the pontiff's travel on their iPhones.
Prominent Vatican diplomat dies after long illness
Cardinal Pio Laghi, a long-time Vatican diplomat who forged enduring ties with key White House officials, particularly the Bush family, died recently.
Reckless driving may be a sin, Vatican says
Recklessly overtaking other cars can be a sin, the Vatican said in a warning to drivers on Tuesday advising motorists to make the sign of the cross before hitting the road. "Overtaking dangerously can be a sin," said Cardinal Renato Martino as he presented recommendations put together by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People.
Vatican decries latest death in 'irresponsible' Dakar rally
The Vatican decried the death of South African motorcyclist Elmer Symons in the Dakar Rally, the latest of scores of deaths associated with what it called a "bloody, irresponsible" race. The Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano said in its issue to appear on Thursday that the 29-year-old Symons died in a race that has "precious little to do with healthy competition".
Pope holds out olive branch to Muslim envoys
Pope Benedict will meet Muslim ambassadors to the Vatican and Italian Islamic leaders on Monday to try to calm lingering anger over his use of a medieval text that says their religion was spread by violence.
Olmert asks pope to denounce Holocaust forum
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked Pope Benedict on Wednesday to denounce personally a conference in Iran questioning the Holocaust, an Olmert aide said, to reinforce criticism of it by the Vatican. The Israeli leader and the head of the world's one billion Roman Catholics spoke for about 40 minutes at the Vatican.
Vatican lists 'new sins', including pollution
Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of "new" sins such as causing environmental blight. The Vatican opposes stem-cell research that involves destruction of embryos and has warned against the prospect of human cloning.
Vatican calls for mass apology for sex scandals
The Vatican has called on Catholics to atone for the sex abuse scandals that have engulfed their church in recent years by taking part in what may be the largest global prayer initiative ever seen. Cardinal Cláudio Hummes said that every diocese in the world should name a priest to work full-time on the arrangements for the "perpetual adoration" of the eucharist.
Make space for God, Pope says in Christmas sermon
Pope Benedict led the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas with a midnight mass on Tuesday, urging people to find time and space for God, the needy and the suffering. Benedict, marking the third Christmas season of his reign, said a solemn mass for about 10 000 people inside St Peter's Basilica on a chilly night.
Vatican paper criticises Golden Compass
The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano has criticised the children's film The Golden Compass starring Nicole Kidman, calling it "anti-Christmas". Co-starring British actor Daniel Craig, the film is a "fantasy saga with 1960s sauce," the paper said in its Tuesday evening edition.
Pope: Progress won't save humanity
Humanity will not be saved by progress, science or political revolution, but only in the collective hope offered by Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI said on Friday in a theological letter setting out his views on faith. The "Spe Salvi [Saved by Hope]" encyclical is the second of his papacy and intended as a guidance for the worldwide Roman Catholic flock.
Pope asked to take action against radio host
The World Jewish Congress on Monday urged Pope Benedict XVI to crack down on a Polish priest accused of broadcasting anti-Semitic views on his radio station. "Anti-Semitic statements by the Polish priest Tadeusz Rydzyj ... should not be tolerated any more," the congress's new president, Ronald Lauder, told the pope during an audience.
Pope was opposed to 'wrong prophet' Bob Dylan
Pope Benedict was opposed to Bob Dylan appearing at a youth event with the late pope John Paul in 1997 because he considered the pop star the wrong kind of "prophet", Benedict writes in a new book issued on Thursday. Benedict makes the disclosure in a new book of memoirs about his predecessor, who died in 2005.
Pope faces Muslim calls for unequivocal apology
Pope Benedict faced a growing chorus of demands on Tuesday for an unequivocal apology for remarks seen as portraying Islam as a violent faith, despite attempts by Western leaders and churchmen to defuse the crisis. Even United States President George Bush got involved, saying on Monday the pope had been "sincere" when he said sorry to Muslims.
Pope seeks to calm storm
The Vatican on Saturday sought to quell the storm engulfing Pope Benedict XVI by claiming that the pontiff "sincerely regrets" quoting remarks that Islam was 'evil and inhuman'. In a conciliatory statement, the Vatican's "prime minister" said the pope was sorry his comments had offended Muslims around the world.
Pope sorry his speech found offensive
Pope Benedict is sorry Muslims were offended by a speech that provoked fury in the Islamic world and led to calls for the leader of the Catholic church to apologise personally, the Vatican said on Saturday. Benedict's crisis was sparked by a speech in Germany on Tuesday that appeared to endorse a Christian view, contested by most Muslims, that early Muslims spread their religion by violence.
Africa tops list of pope's concerns
The conflicts raging in Africa were at the top of Pope Benedict XVI's concerns as he held his traditional New Year's meeting on Monday with ambassadors to the Holy See. "We must not forget Africa with its numerous situations of war and tension," he said.
