Pope Benedict XVI News

THE FOLLOWING is the full text of the homily given by Pope Benedict XVI in Australia in which he issued his first full and explicit public apology to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests.

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, left, seals a metal container that will serve as a time capsule, as Julio Valencia, architect in charge of the renovation of the Metropolitan Cathedral, looks on in Mexico ...

Australians may finally be about to get their first saint. During a visit to a chapel devoted to Mary MacKillop, who is celebrated for her work caring for children in rural towns across the country last ...

Blessed ... Lauren Huxley meets the Pope. Photo: James Brickwood Sydney bashing victim Lauren Huxley has described being blessed by the Pope as a huge honour and a "once in a lifetime opportunity". Just metres ...

Pope Benedict, who generally wears a white skull cap known as a "zuchetto," was given a Mickey Mouse cap with ears Friday.

Pope Benedict XVI, like many world leaders, has spoken passionately about the urgent need to protect the planet from climate catastrophe.

POPE BENEDICT XVI Pope Benedict XVI has made nine foreign pilgrimages since assuming the papacy in 2005, the same number his predecessor John Paul II made during the first three years of his papacy.

Sydney will become a giant outdoor theatre space for World Youth Day as actors recreate the biblical account of Jesus Christ's final days.

Three of the 39 Indians, who disappeared in New Zealand en route to attend the Catholic Church's week-long World Youth Day festivities in Sydney, have said they were duped by their travel agent and are not ...

Scattered across the country, but united in their faith, Catholic voters have long been included among the crown jewels of any presidential campaign.

And in Pennsylvania, the Catholic vote could be pivotal to winning the key swing state. As a group, Catholics represent the state's largest religious bloc, constituting 29 percent of its population.

This fact is undoubtedly not lost on the McCain campaign, which showed this week it understands Catholics could hold the key to the door at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was kicking off an interfaith conference in Madrid on Wednesday _ an effort to bring Muslims, Christians and Jews closer together amid a world that often puts the three faiths at odds.

Spanish King Juan Carlos was also addressing the gathering _ which the Saudis have billed as a strictly religious affair. There's to be no mention of hot-button issues like the war in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iranian nuclear ambitions or rising oil prices.

Abdullah has made reaching out to other faiths a hallmark of his rule since taking over the oil-rich kingdom following the death of his half brother in 2005. He met with Pope Benedict XVI late last year, the first meeting ever between a pope and a reigning Saudi king.

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 13, 2008 .- Across the 28 dioceses of Australia, there were tears and cheers as pilgrims began to pack up to head to their final World Youth Day destination of Sydney.

Pilgrims in Sydney for World Youth Day will spend early today recovering from last night's events dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock", at more than 300 religious services dispersed across the city.

THE parents of two girls who were repeatedly raped by a Melbourne priest are flying to Sydney from London to face Cardinal George Pell in time for Sunday's World Youth Day final Mass.

VATICAN CITY, JULY 14, 2008 .- The situation of the world gives rise to "deep concerns" about the very future of mankind, Benedict XVI says.

One shot pigeons, another played bocce ball with the Swiss Guards, and John Paul II skied and hiked.

Young Catholics should struggle against their "fat relentless egos" and commit themselves to their fate, Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell has told the World Youth Day opening mass.

NEW ULM, Minnesota, JULY 14, 2008 .- Benedict XVI named Father John LeVoir as the bishop of New Ulm, Minnesota.

Jul 13 - Pope Benedict arrives in Sydney for a Catholic youth festival saying he'll apologise for a sexual abuse scandal that's rocked the church in Australia.

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 13, 2008 .- When an announcement was made during Sunday Mass at St.