Vatican

Thou Art Avenged:Knights Templar Seek Reparations From The Popeby Simon Magus

An order claiming to be descended from the Knights Templar have petitioned the Pope in the Spanish courts for the restoration of assets seized by the Vatican 700 years ago.

This photo released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Friday, Aug.1 2008 shows Pope Benedict XVI sitting on...

AP - This photo released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Friday, Aug.

Bernini's Baldacchino

St. Peters Basilica, The Vatican.

John Paul II Knew Role of Sports, Vatican Launches Foundation to Promote Values

VATICAN CITY, JULY 28, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Because Pope John Paul II understood just how important a role sports play in our culture, he addressed the topic in some 120 addresses.Bishop Carlo Mazza of ...

Pope Benedict urges help for Iraqi Christians

Pope Benedict XVI urged the world to help Iraqis who have fled their country and called for better protection for Christians inside Iraq during talks Friday with Iraq's prime minister, the Vatican said. In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the pontiff's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo south of Rome, Friday, July 25, 2008. In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper...

Pope meets clergy sex abuse victims in Australia

Pope Benedict XVI ended his visit to Australia Monday by meeting with victims of sexual abuse inflicted by Roman Catholic clergy - an issue that has scandalized the church at a time when the Vatican concedes it is struggling to draw people to its fold. Pope Benedict XVI, right, gestures as he sits with Cardinal George Pell during a ceremony to thank World Youth Day volunteers at the Domain in Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 21, 2008. Pope Benedict XVI thanks World Youth Day volunteers at the Dom...

Pope Benedict XVI, center, flanked by Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, center left, and by Vatican Spokesman...

AP - Pope Benedict XVI, center, flanked by Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, center left, and by Vatican Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, center right, claps his hands as he meets journalists on the flight from Sydney, Australia, to Rome at the end of his visit to Australia on the occasion of the World Youth Day, Monday, July 21, 2008.

Pope meets sex abuse victims in Australia: Vatican (AFP)

AFP - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday met four Australian victims of sexual abuse by clergymen to hear about their ordeals and console them, papal spokesman Father Frederico Lombardi told journalists.

In this photo released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI hugs an Australian Aborigine in ...

AP - In this photo released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI hugs an Australian Aborigine in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, July 17, 2008.

What does the pope do on his day off?

One shot pigeons, another played bocce ball with the Swiss Guards, and John Paul II skied and hiked. In this handout photo made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano Pope Benedict XVI, flanked by Cardinal George Pell, left, and an unidentified Bishop meet at the Kenthurst Study Centre, in Sydney, Monday, July 14, 2008. A giant photo of Pope Benedict XVI is projected onto the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 14, 2008. Pope Benedict XV...