Benedict Xvi

pope_2027

Pope Benedict XVI waves from his popemobile as he arrives for the traditional prayer to celebrate the Immaculate Conception, in Rome, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010. Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the Christmas season in Rome with his traditional visit to the posh Spanish Steps neighborhood to pray before a statue of Mary. Throngs of shoppers, tourists and Romans alike jammed the rain-slicked cobblestones around the piazza to catch a glimpse of Benedict. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

pope_2026

Pope Benedict XVI waves from his popemobile as he arrives for the traditional prayer to celebrate the Immaculate Conception, in Rome, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010. Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the Christmas season in Rome with his traditional visit to the posh Spanish Steps neighborhood to pray before a statue of Mary. Throngs of shoppers, tourists and Romans alike jammed the rain-slicked cobblestones around the piazza to catch a glimpse of Benedict as he marked the Catholic Church's feast of the Immaculate Conception. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

pope_2025

Pope Benedict XVI reads his message as he stands in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception feast, in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010. Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the Christmas season in Rome with his traditional visit to the posh Spanish Steps neighborhood to pray before the statue of Mary. Throngs of shoppers, tourists and Romans alike jammed the rain-slicked cobblestones around the piazza to catch a glimpse of Benedict. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

pope_2024

Pope Benedict XVI prays in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary, on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception feast, in Rome Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010. Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the Christmas season in Rome with his traditional visit to the posh Spanish Steps neighborhood to pray before a statue of Mary. Throngs of shoppers, tourists and Romans alike jammed the rain-slicked cobblestones around the piazza to catch a glimpse of Benedict as he marked the Catholic Church's feast of the Immaculate Conception. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

pope_2023

Pope Benedict XVI asperges incense in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary, on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception feast, in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010. Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the Christmas season in Rome with his traditional visit to the posh Spanish Steps neighborhood to pray before a statue of Mary. Throngs of shoppers, tourists and Romans alike jammed the rain-slicked cobblestones around the piazza to catch a glimpse of Benedict as he marked the Catholic Church's feast of the Immaculate Conception. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Vatican_Pope_Book.sff.jpg

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano Pope Benedict XVI, flanked by German journalist Peter Seewald, left, and by Monsignor Rino Fisichella holds a copy of the book "Light of the World'' during a private audience at the Vatican, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. The Vatican broadened the scope of the pope's comments about condom use being a lesser evil than transmitting HIV by saying the concept also applies to women. The Pontiff said in the book that condom use by people such as male prostitutes was a lesser evil since it indicated they were taking a step toward a more moral and responsible sexuality by aiming to protect their partner from infection. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Vatican_Pope_.sff.jpg

Pope Benedict XVI, right, delivers his message, flanked by Archbishop James Harvey, Prefect of the Papal Household, during his weekly general audience, in Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

APTOPIX Vatican Pope _Thir.jpg

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful during an audience he held for newly appointed cardinals and their relatives, in the Pope Paul II hall at the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 22, 2010. At right is his personal aide Rev. Georg Gaenswein, and Archbishop James Harvey Prefect of the Prefecture of the Papal Household. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

pope_581

Newly-appointed US Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, left, is congratulated by other cardinals after being elevated by Pope Benedict XVI during a consistory inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. Benedict XVI formally created 24 new cardinals on Saturday amid cheers in St. Peter's Basilica, bringing a mostly Italian group into the elite club that will eventually elect his successor. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

pope_580

Pope Benedict XVI walks with the pastoral staff during a mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010. The Pontiff formally created 24 new cardinals on Saturday amid cheers in St. Peter's Basilica, bringing a mostly Italian group into the elite club that will eventually elect his successor. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

pope_577

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010. The Pontiff formally created 24 new cardinals on Saturday amid cheers in St. Peter's Basilica, bringing a mostly Italian group into the elite club that will eventually elect his successor. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

pope_576

Cardinal-designate Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl, left, greets Pope Benedict XVI, right, as he arrives for a consistory inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. Benedict XVI formally created 24 new cardinals on Saturday amid cheers in St. Peter's Basilica, bringing a mostly Italian group into the elite club that will eventually elect his successor. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

pope_575

Cardinal-designates Archbishop of Washington Donald W. Wuerl, left, and Archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, Kazimierz Nycz make the sign of the cross before being elevated to Cardinal Pope Benedict XVI during a consistory inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. Benedict XVI formally created 24 new cardinals on Saturday amid cheers in St. Peter's Basilica, bringing a mostly Italian group into the elite club that will eventually elect his successor. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

pope_574

Newly-appointed US Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, left, is congratulated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano after being elevated by Pope Benedict XVI during a consistory inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. Benedict XVI formally created 24 new cardinals on Saturday amid cheers in St. Peter's Basilica, bringing a mostly Italian group into the elite club that will eventually elect his successor. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

pope_572

Pope Benedict XVI, sitting in his chair on the stage, delivers his speech during an audience he held for newly appointed cardinals, sitting in a row at right, and their relatives, in the Pope Paul II hall at the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

pope_571

Newly-appointed Cardinal Donald. W. Wuerl touches his cap after greeting Pope Benedict XVI at the end of an audience with the newly-appointed cardinals and their relatives, in Hall Paul VI at the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 22, 2010. On Saturday the pope created 24 new cardinals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

pope_570

Newly-appointed Cardinal Donald. W. Wuerl, second from top, sits amongst other cardinals as they attend an audience with Pope Benedict XVI for the newly-appointed cardinals and their relatives, in Hall Paul VI at the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 22, 2010. On Saturday the pope created 24 new cardinals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

pope_569

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful during an audience he held for newly appointed cardinals and their relatives, in the Pope Paul II hall at the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 22, 2010. At right is his personal aide Rev. Georg Gaenswein, and Archbishop James Harvey Prefect of the Prefecture of the Papal Household. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

pope_568

Pope Benedict XVI walks past a Vatican Swiss guard at the end of an audience with the newly-appointed cardinals and their relatives, in Hall Paul VI at the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 22, 2010. On Saturday the pope created 24 new cardinals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)