Pope says bishops will discuss Middle East at special meeting in October 2010

October 4th, 2009 Pope: materialism, extremism harm Africa's futureVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict opened a special meeting of bishops on Africa on Sunday by praising the continent as the world's spiritual center but lamenting that it risks being afflicted by materialism and religious fundamentalism. A Congolese choir — with bongo drums, electric guitars and swaying, ululating singers — filled St.

September 23rd, 2009 UK reports: Pope Benedict XVI to visit BritainLONDON — Pope Benedict XVI next year will make the first visit to Britain by a pontiff in decades, British media reported Wednesday. Journalists traveling to New York with Prime Minister Gordon Brown reported on the planned visit.

September 1st, 2009 Pope backs Italy church in Berlusconi rowROME — Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday gave his full support to the Italian Catholic Church after it was dragged into a media row linked to Premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal. The Italian Bishops Conference said Benedict had spoken by telephone with its president, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, to discuss the "current situation." Benedict expressed to Bagnasco "his esteem, gratitude and appreciation," the Bishops Conference said in a statement.

August 31st, 2009 Pope accepts Scranton bishop's resignationVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the early retirement of a U.S. bishop who has denounced nuns for sponsoring lectures by gay-rights advocates and directed priests to deny communion to abortion backers, the Vatican said Monday.

June 24th, 2009 Obama to visit pope during G-8 visitWASHINGTON — A White House spokesman says President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict XVI will talk about their shared belief in the dignity of all people at their meeting next month. The White House on Wednesday said the two leaders would meet while Obama visits Italy for the G-8 summit.

June 23rd, 2009 Geithner plans trips to Europe and Middle EastWASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will travel to the Middle East and Europe next month for a series of meetings to discuss global economic issues. The Treasury Department said Tuesday that Geithner will meet with officials in Britain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and France to discuss the global economic downturn and financial crisis before a leaders' summit of the Group of 20 nations in September in Pittsburgh.

June 1st, 2009 Cardinal: Beijing still controlling Chinese churchHONG KONG — China has held off on ordaining bishops without Vatican approval, but government interference in the state-backed Chinese church is still a concern, Hong Kong's cardinal — a key adviser to the pope— said Monday. Beijing and the Vatican don't have diplomatic relations, and the power to appoint bishops is a major sticking point between them.

May 12th, 2009 Pope: 'Hear the Cry of the Afflicted'The following is the text of the note placed by Pope Benedict XVI in the Western Wall in Jerusalem, as released by the Vatican: God of all the ages, on my visit to Jerusalem, the "City of Peace," spiritual home to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, I bring before you the joys, the hopes and the aspirations, the trials, the suffering and the pain of all your people throughout the world. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, hear the cry of the afflicted, the fearful, the bereft; send your peace upon this Holy Land, upon the Middle East, upon the entire human family; stir the hearts of all who call upon your name, to walk humbly in the path of justice and compassion.

May 11th, 2009 Pope calls for Palestinian state in IsraelTEL AVIV, Israel — Pope Benedict XVI has called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, immediately plunging into Middle East politics upon his arrival in Israel. That position could put him at odds with his Israeli hosts.

May 10th, 2009 Pope leads open-air Mass in Amman stadiumAMMAN, Jordan — Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the first open-air Mass of his Middle East trip Sunday, drawing Catholics from Iraq and other Christian communities across the region. As many as 20,000 people attended the service in a sports stadium on Benedict's third-day in Jordan.

May 10th, 2009 Pope celebrates mass in sports stadium in JordanAMMAN, Jordan — Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating an open air mass in a sports stadium in the Jordanian capital. Catholics from across the Middle East are attending the service.

May 9th, 2009 Pope arrives at Mount Nebo in JordanAMMAN, Jordan — Pope Benedict XVI has arrived at Mount Nebo, where the Bible says Moses saw the Promised Land. The sun broke through the morning mist just before the pope arrived Saturday at the wind-swept hill overlooking the Jordan valley.

May 8th, 2009 Pope heads to Mideast on 'pilgrimage of peace'ROME — Pope Benedict XVI has set off for the Middle East on a self-proclaimed pilgrimage of peace. Benedict's plane took off from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport at about 9:50 a.m.

May 1st, 2009 Israel issues special stamps ahead of pope visitJERUSALEM — The Israeli postal service has issued a dozen special stamps marking the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Holy Land. The stamps, which will be made available to the public on Monday, feature 12 Christian holy sites in Israel that the pope will visit during his May 11-15 tour.

January 27th, 2009 VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday expressed 'solidarity' with the Jewish people and asked four recently reinstated bishops to adhere to the Second Vatican Council which prescribes brotherly relations with Jews. The pope during his general audience said the reality of the Nazi mass murder of Jews, known as the Holocaust, or Shoah, cannot be cancelled through any form of denial.