Papacy and the Vatican on Yahoo! News Photos

REUTERS PICTURES OF THE DECADE. Newly elected Pope Benedict ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:04:42 GMT

(Reuters) - REUTERS PICTURES OF THE DECADE. Newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, also known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, greets thousands of pilgrims from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 19, 2005. German Cardinal Ratzinger, the strict defender of Catholic orthodoxy for the past 23 years, was elected Pope on Tuesday despite a widespread assumption he was too old and divisive to win the election. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (VATICAN)

REUTERS PICTURES OF THE DECADE. Cardinals' cassocks are ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:03:31 GMT

(Reuters) - REUTERS PICTURES OF THE DECADE. Cardinals' cassocks are blown by a gust of wind as they arrive for the funeral mass of the Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican April 8, 2005. REUTERS/Max Rossi (VATICAN)

Pope Benedict XVI (R) exchanges gifts with Kuwait's Prime ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:21:53 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (R) exchanges gifts with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah during a private meeting at the Vatican November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)

Pope Benedict XVI (L) talks with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:39:48 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (L) talks with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah during a private meeting at the Vatican November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino/Pool (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)

Pope Benedict XVI (C) poses with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:36:38 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (C) poses with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah (4th L) and members of his delegation during a private meeting at the Vatican November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino/Pool (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)

Pope Benedict XVI (R) looks at a carpet donated by Kuwait's ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:36:34 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (R) looks at a carpet donated by Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah during a private meeting at the Vatican November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino/Pool (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)

Pope Benedict XVI (R) looks at a gift donated by Kuwait's ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:34:23 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (R) looks at a gift donated by Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah during a private meeting at the Vatican November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino/Pool (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)

Pope Benedict XVI (R) poses with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:32:07 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (R) poses with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah during a private meeting at the Vatican November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino/Pool (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)

Pope Benedict XVI (R) walks with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:27:32 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (R) walks with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah during a private meeting at the Vatican November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino/Pool (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)

Pope Benedict XVI (R) walks with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:27:29 GMT

Pope Benedict XVI (R) poses with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:25:20 GMT

Pope Benedict XVI (R) shakes hands with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:23:05 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (R) shakes hands with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah during a private meeting at the Vatican November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino/Pool (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)

Pope Benedict XVI, right, meets with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(AP) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:19:05 GMT

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI, right, meets with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah, left, in his private library at the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)

Pope Benedict XVI, right, meets with Kuwait's Prime Minister ...

(AP) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:18:41 GMT

A Catholic group named "Militia Christi" protests ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:50:10 GMT

(Reuters) - A Catholic group named "Militia Christi" protests against the EU ban on crucifixes in classrooms, after the weekly Angelus blessing by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican November 22, 2009. The European Court of Human Rights ruled earlier this month that crucifixes should be removed from Italian classrooms, prompting Vatican anger and sparking uproar in Italy, where such icons are embedded in the national psyche. The banner reads in Italian "Long live Christ, defend the crucifix!". REUTERS/Chris Helgren (VATICAN RELIGION)

Pope Benedict XVI reads a statement during his weekly Angelus ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:41:35 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI reads a statement during his weekly Angelus blessing at the Vatican November 22, 2009. REUTERS/Chris Helgren (VATICAN RELIGION)

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd gathered below in Saint ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:39:26 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd gathered below in Saint Peter's square during his weekly Angelus blessing at the Vatican November 22, 2009. REUTERS/Chris Helgren (VATICAN RELIGION)

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his weekly Angelus blessing to the ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:37:12 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI delivers his weekly Angelus blessing to the crowd gathered below in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican November 22, 2009. REUTERS/Chris Helgren (VATICAN RELIGION)

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful from the window of his ...

(AP) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:32:07 GMT

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful from the window of his ...

(AP) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:30:17 GMT

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful from the window of his ...

(AP) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:30:05 GMT

This handout picture released by The Vatican Press office shows ...

(AFP/OSSERVATORE ROMANO) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:13:00 GMT

(AFP/OSSERVATORE ROMANO) - This handout picture released by The Vatican Press office shows Pope Benedict XVI (R) and Church of England leader Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, meeting at The Vatican.(AFP/OSSERVATORE ROMANO)

This handout picture released by The Vatican Press office shows ...

(AFP/OSSERVATORE ROMANO) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:13:00 GMT

(AFP/OSSERVATORE ROMANO) - This handout picture released by The Vatican Press office shows Pope Benedict XVI (L) and Church of England leader Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, at the Vatican. The pontiff and his Anglican counterpart had "cordial discussions", the Vatican said amid tensions between the two churches.(AFP/OSSERVATORE ROMANO)

Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid walks out of the Sistine Chapel at ...

(AFP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:43:19 GMT

(AFP) - Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid walks out of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican after Pope Benedict XVI met with some 260 artists.(AFP/Filippo Monteforte)

US sculptor John David Mooney walks out of the Sistine Chapel ...

(AFP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:43:19 GMT

(AFP) - US sculptor John David Mooney walks out of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican after Pope Benedict XVI met with some 260 artists.(AFP/Filippo Monteforte)

A handout photo from the Vatican Press office shows Italian ...

(AFP/HO) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:59:25 GMT

(AFP/HO) - A handout photo from the Vatican Press office shows Italian actor Lina Banfi greeting Pope Benedict XVI (centre) at the Vatican. Benedict and his Anglican counterpart, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, met amid tensions over the Roman Catholic Church's recent opening to disaffected Anglicans.(AFP/HO)

The Anglican leader Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams ...

(AFP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:59:25 GMT

(AFP) - The Anglican leader Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams attends an ecuminal evening prayer at the Church St Ignatius in Rome. Pope Benedict XVI and Williams met amid tensions over the Roman Catholic Church's recent opening to disaffected Anglicans.(AFP/Filippo Monteforte)

Pope Benedict XVI leads a special meeting with artists in the ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:13:53 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI leads a special meeting with artists in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Picture taken with fish-eye lens. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore ...

(AP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:14:36 GMT

(AP) - In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, left, shakes hands with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams during their meeting at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. The archbishop of Canterbury held his first talks Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI since the Roman Catholic church's unprecedented invitation to disaffected Anglicans with the Vatican saying the two sides still want to press ahead for closer relations. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO)

Pope Benedict XVI leads a special meeting with artists in the ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:02:09 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI leads a special meeting with artists in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict meets up to 500 artists from around the world, as part of efforts to turn the page on the Vatican's sometimes conflicted relationship with the contemporary art world. Picture taken with fish-eye lens. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION SOCIETY ENTERTAINMENT IMAGES OF THE DAY)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore ...

(AP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:49:02 GMT

(AP) - In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, left, meets with the archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. The archbishop of Canterbury held his first talks Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI since the Roman Catholic church's unprecedented invitation to disaffected Anglicans with the Vatican saying the two sides still want to press ahead for closer relations. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore ...

(AP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:46:44 GMT

(AP) - In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, right, meets with the archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. The archbishop of Canterbury held his first talks Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI since the Roman Catholic church's unprecedented invitation to disaffected Anglicans with the Vatican saying the two sides still want to press ahead for closer relations. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO)

Pope Benedict XVI (L) shakes hands with Archbishop of Canterbury ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:37:38 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (L) shakes hands with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams during a private meeting at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict held talks with Archbishop Williams in their first meeting since a Vatican initiative making it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION)

Pope Benedict XVI (C) exchanges gifts with Archbishop of Canterbury ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:36:30 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (C) exchanges gifts with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (R) during a private meeting at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict held talks with Archbishop Williams in their first meeting since a Vatican initiative making it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION)

Pope Benedict XVI (L) poses with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:33:12 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (L) poses with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams during a private meeting at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict held talks with Archbishop Williams in their first meeting since a Vatican initiative making it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION)

Pope Benedict XVI (5th L) and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:31:04 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (5th L) and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (4th R) pose with their own delegates during a private meeting at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict held talks with Archbishop Williams in their first meeting since a Vatican initiative making it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore ...

(AP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:30:25 GMT

(AP) - In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, right, meets with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. The Archbishop of Canterbury held his first talks Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI since the Roman Catholic church's unprecedented invitation to disaffected Anglicans with the Vatican saying the two sides still want to press ahead for closer relations. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO)

Pope Benedict XVI (L) speaks with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:24:36 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (L) speaks with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams during a private meeting at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict held talks with Archbishop Williams in their first meeting since a Vatican initiative making it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore ...

(AP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:21:53 GMT

Pope Benedict XVI (R) speaks with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:21:23 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI (R) speaks with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams during a private meeting at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict held talks with Archbishop Williams in their first meeting since a Vatican initiative making it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore ...

(AP) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:20:43 GMT

Pope Benedict XVI leads a special meeting with artists in the ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:13:49 GMT

Italian actor Lino Banfi kisses Pope Benedict XVI's hand ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:11:39 GMT

(Reuters) - Italian actor Lino Banfi kisses Pope Benedict XVI's hand as he arrives to lead a special meeting with artists in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict meets up to 500 artists from around the world, as part of efforts to turn the page on the Vatican's sometimes conflicted relationship with the contemporary art world. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead a special meeting with artists ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:10:34 GMT

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead a special meeting with artists in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican November 21, 2009. Pope Benedict meets up to 500 artists from around the world, as part of efforts to turn the page on the Vatican's sometimes conflicted relationship with the contemporary art world. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead a special meeting with artists ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:05:16 GMT

In this image provided by Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza ...

(AP) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:39:18 GMT

(AP) - In this image provided by Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze shows a finger attributed to Galileo Galilei. A Florence museum says, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, two fingers and a tooth believed to belong to Galileo Galilei have been found and will go on display next spring. Three fingers and a tooth were taken from the astronomer's body in 1737 and placed in a container. Paolo Galluzzi, director of the Museum of the History of Science, said a private collector had bought a container at auction containing two fingers and a tooth. The collector contacted Florence cultural officials and the parts and the container were found to match descriptions of the Galileo relics in historical documents. Galileo, who died in 1642, was branded a heretic by the Vatican for saying the Earth revolved around the Sun. In the early 1990's, Pope John Paul II rehabilitated him. (AP Photo/Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze/ho)

In this image provided by Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza ...

(AP) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:38:48 GMT

(AP) - In this image provided by Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze shows a finger attributed to Galileo Galilei. A Florence museum says, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, two fingers and a tooth believed to belong to Galileo Galilei have been found and will go on display next spring. Three fingers and a tooth were taken from the astronomer's body in 1737 and placed in a container. Paolo Galluzzi, director of the Museum of the History of Science, said a private collector had bought a container at auction containing two fingers and a tooth. The collector contacted Florence cultural officials and the parts and the container were found to match descriptions of the Galileo relics in historical documents. Galileo, who died in 1642, was branded a heretic by the Vatican for saying the Earth revolved around the Sun. In the early 1990s, Pope John Paul II rehabilitated him. (AP Photo/Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze/ho)

Pope Benedict XVI, center, poses with Suriname's President Runaldo ...

(AP) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:48:13 GMT

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI, center, poses with Suriname's President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan and his wife Lisbeth, during a meeting at the Vatican, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Danilo Schiavella, Pool)

Pope Benedict XVI meets Suriname's President Runaldo Ronald ...

(AP) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:47:12 GMT

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI meets Suriname's President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, at the Vatican, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Danilo Schiavella, Pool)

Pope Benedict XVI meets Suriname's President Runaldo Ronald ...

(AP) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:46:25 GMT

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI meets Suriname's President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, at the Vatican, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Danilo Schiavella, Pool)