White House says Obama plans to visit Vatican, pope during trip to Rome next month

October 13th, 2009 Pope to visit Rome synagogue in JanuaryVATICAN CITY — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI will visit Rome's main synagogue in January as part of Catholic-Jewish dialogue. The announcement Tuesday gave no details of the Jan.

October 1st, 2009 Pope meets Pakistan president at summer retreatCASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI and the president of Pakistan discussed the need to end religious discrimination during a meeting at the papal summer retreat. Tensions have flared in recent months between Pakistan's Muslim minority and its religious minorities.

September 26th, 2009 Berlusconi, pope meet 1st time since sex scandalROME — Premier Silvio Berlusconi had his first meeting Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI since the Italian leader was implicated in a sex scandal that broke last spring. Vatican spokesman the Rev.

September 17th, 2009 Vatican sees end to tensions with Russian OrthodoxVATICAN CITY — Relations with the Russian Orthodox church have vastly improved, possibly paving the way for a papal visit to Moscow or a historic meeting between the pope and the Orthodox patriarch outside of Russia or the Vatican, a senior Vatican cardinal said Thursday. Cardinal Walter Kasper told Vatican Radio "we have overcome all the tensions in recent years." He spoke after meeting with Archbishop Hilarion, head of external relations for the Moscow patriarch's office.

July 18th, 2009 Vatican: Pope learning to cope with castLES COMBES, Italy — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI spent a calm night after breaking his wrist in his Alpine vacation chalet and is learning to cope with the cast on his right arm. Vatican spokesman the Rev.

July 10th, 2009 Obama meets with Pope Benedict XVIVATICAN CITY — President Barack Obama is meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Shaking hands with the pope, Obama said it was "a great honor" to meet him.

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 10th, 2009 Obama delivers letter to pope from Sen. KennedyVATICAN CITY — President Barack Obama has given Pope Benedict XVI a personal letter from ailing Sen.

July 10th, 2009 Obama at Vatican to meet with Pope Benedict XVIVATICAN CITY — President Barack Obama has arrived at the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. Obama's motorcade arrived at the Holy See on Friday, greeted by Swiss Guards in their colorful uniforms.

July 5th, 2009 Obama to begin overseas mission SundayWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is embarking on his next foreign mission. He leaves late Sunday on a weeklong trip that takes him to Russia, Italy and Ghana.

July 5th, 2009 Russian president: We want better Vatican tiesVATICAN CITY — Russia's president says Moscow plans to improve its ties with the Vatican. Tensions between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches over property disputes and other issues have so far made it impossible for any pope to visit Moscow.

June 16th, 2009 Pope taps Ranjith to head Colombo archdioceseVATICAN CITY — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI has named a Vatican official, Monsignor Albert Malcolm Ranjith, to head the Colombo, Sri Lanka archdiocese. Ranjith takes the seat from the retiring Archbishop Oswald Thomas Colman Gomis at a delicate time in Sri Lanka's history, with a brutal 25-year civil war between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels ending last month.

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.

March 16th, 2009 ROME - The Vatican and Washington are in the process of organising a meeting of Pope Benedict XVI with US President Barack Obama, according to media reports Sunday. It is possible that the two leaders would meet during Obama's first visit to Europe on the occasion of the G20 summit in London in April, US Vatican representative Thomas J.

February 14th, 2009 JERUSALEM - Pope Benedict XVI will pay an official visit to Israel in May this year, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Sunday. 'The entire Israeli government welcomes the visit,' Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev said.