Pope Benedict XVI encouraged South Africa to work for peace on the African continent during a private meeting on Friday with President Thabo Mbeki, who has tried to mediate some of the region’s most intractable conflicts. ”Welcome, Mr President, nice to see you,” Benedict told Mbeki in English.
Pope John Paul II made a surprise appearance at a hospital window on Wednesday, giving the Roman Catholic faithful their third glimpse of him since he was rushed back to the clinic for throat surgery nearly two weeks ago. The 84-year-old pontiff’s brief appearance came on a day when he traditionally holds his weekly public audience at the Vatican.