Less worldly church is better witness: Pope

INTERNATIONAL: “Once liberated from her material and political burdens, the church can reach out more effectively and in a truly Christian way to the whole world; she can be truly open to the world," Pope Benedict said recently on his German trip, according to an analysis on America Magazine.

Pope names new nuncio

JAPAN: Pope Benedict XVI yesterday named the new nuncio to Japan. He is Archbishop Joseph Chennoth, former ...

Pope Benedict and World Youth Days

INTERNATIONAL: Sandro Magister, in chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it, revisits Pope Benedict's reflections on World Youth Days, made in an address in 2008.

Pope slams food price ‘speculation’

INTERNATIONAL: In a meeting with the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Pope Benedict ...

Malaysian PM to meet Pope to establish ties

MALAYSIA: Malaysia may establish diplomatic ties with the Vatican, reports say.

Pope may launch new Vatican portal

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict may himself put the new Vatican news portal online with a click from the Apostolic Palace in its launch this week.

Promote unity, Pope tells Indian bishops

INDIA: Bishops are called not only to teach, sanctify and govern their flocks, but also to promote unity and to "mould his flock into one family," Pope Benedict told Indian bishops on their ad limina visit.

Benedict gets a green popemobile

VATICAN CITY: Mercedes-Benz is making a greener, hybrid Popemobile for Benedict.

Vatican announces ‘Nobel Prize’ for theology winners

VATICAN CITY: The Vatican has announced the first three winners of the Ratzinger Prize for theological studies relating to the writings of Pope Benedict that it hopes will one day be looked on as equivalent to a Nobel Prize in theology.

Pope walks with Gypsies

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict received groups of European gypsies in audience at the Vatican on Saturday to mark the 150th anniversary of the gypsy martyr of Spanish origin, Blessed Ceferino Gimenez.

Pope calls for ‘human ecology’ and eco-lifestyle

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict appealed for a global lifestyle which respects the environment, develops clean energy and protects humanity in a speech on Thursday.

Protect the family, Pope says on Croatian visit

CROATIA: The Pope, whose weekend visit to Croatia coincided with Family Day, has spoken out against practices such as abortion and called on citizens to back legislation that supports families in "the task of giving birth to children and educating them".