Pope signs new globalization encyclical; tells new archbishops to protect their flocks

September 26th, 2009 A not so itsy-bitsy spider bugs the pope in PraguePRAGUE — President Barack Obama had his fly. Now Pope Benedict XVI has his spider.

September 19th, 2009 Pope: Bishops to discuss Middle East next yearVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has announced a special meeting of bishops next year to discuss Middle East peace efforts and the role of the Catholic Church in the region. Addressing bishops and patriarchs from Eastern rite churches, Benedict said Saturday that the meeting will take place Oct.

August 13th, 2009 Vatican newspaper hails Swiss-US bank dealVATICAN CITY — The Vatican's newspaper on Thursday praised as a step toward "ethical finance" a deal announced by the Swiss and U.S. governments to settle American demands for the identities of suspected tax dodgers.

July 29th, 2009 Pope: 'Guardian angel' did not stop accidentLES COMBES, Italy — Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday that his guardian angel was clearly acting "on superior orders" when he let the pontiff fall and break his wrist this month. The 82-year-old pope said in a lighthearted tone that: "Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me more patience and humility, give me more time for prayer and meditation," the pope added.

July 27th, 2009 Vatican says pope fell looking for light switchROME — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI was looking for a light switch in the bedroom of his Alpine chalet when he tripped and broke his wrist while on vacation 10 days ago. Papal spokesman the Rev.

July 17th, 2009 ROME - Currently on a summer break, Pope Benedict XVI has broken his wrist and twisted an ankle after slipping in the bathroom. Despite the agony, the Pope, 82, was able to walk to the casualty department of the hospital after arriving with his private secretary, Mgr Georg Ganswein on Friday.

July 10th, 2009 Obama to conclude summit talks, meet with popeL'AQUILA, Italy — Global problems, Africa and the pope all figure in President Barack Obama's day. He's in Italy, where the three-day G-8 summit on climate change and the economy is wrapping up.

July 7th, 2009 Pope proposes new financial order guided by ethicsVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI called Tuesday for a new world financial order guided by ethics and the search for the common good, denouncing the profit-at-all-cost mentality blamed for bringing about the global financial meltdown. In the third encyclical of his pontificate, Benedict pressed for reform of the United Nations and international economic and financial institutions to give poorer countries more of a say in international policy.

July 4th, 2009 Pope urges G8 leaders to act on crisisVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has urged G-8 leaders meeting in Italy next week to rewrite global financial rules and defend the world's poor from the effects of the economic downturn, the Vatican said Saturday. In a letter to Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who will chair the summit, Benedict appealed to leaders to "listen to the voice of Africa and of the countries that are less developed economically." Benedict said the economic crisis means there is a "real risk not only that hopes to emerge from extreme poverty will be dashed, but that populations that so far have benefited from a minimum of material well-being will fall into poverty." The pope called on the leaders to "reform the international financial architecture" to avoid the speculative operations blamed for the crisis and ensure public and private credit is made available for economic development and job creation, especially in poor regions.

June 29th, 2009 Pope: Scientific analysis done on St. Paul's bonesROME — The first-ever scientific test on what are believed to be the remains of the Apostle Paul "seems to confirm" that they do indeed belong to the Roman Catholic saint, Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday.

June 13th, 2009 Pope's new encyclical will focus on economyVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday his new encyclical on the economy and labor issues will focus on ways to make globalization more careful to the needs of the poor amid the worldwide financial crisis. The document will outline the goals and values that the faithful must "tirelessly defend" to ensure "true freedom and solidarity" among humans, Benedict said in a speech.

June 5th, 2009 Pope meets with Irish churchmen after abuse reportVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has met with Ireland's top churchmen following the publication of a damning report detailing decades of rapes, humiliation and beatings at church-run reform schools in Ireland. The Vatican says they briefed the pope on the report.

May 13th, 2009 Pope gunman wants to convert to ChristianityANKARA, Turkey — The gunman who shot Pope John Paul II says he would like to convert to Christianity at a baptism ceremony at the Vatican after his release from prison in January. In comments relayed by his lawyer on Wednesday, Mehmet Ali Agca also says he wants to visit the grave of Pope John Paul II, meet with Pope Benedict XVI and produce a television documentary on the Vatican.

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.