1. Pope carries Easter candle in Vatican basilica

   Saturday, April 11, 2009 10:16 pm

   VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI carried a tall, lit candle symbolizing hope into a darkened St. Peter's Basilica packed with faithful Saturday night in the traditional start of the Vatican's vigil Mass on the eve of Easter.

   

Benedict leads 1st Christmas Mass as pope

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Midnight Mass in St. Peter\'s Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday.

Thousands visit Pope John Paul II's tomb

Faithful and pilgrims line-up outside St. Peter\'s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday.

Pope cites universe's 'intelligent project'

Pope Benedict XVI reads prayers as he celebrates a mass in St. Peter\'s Basilica at the Vatican to commemorate cardinals and bishops who died in the last year, Friday.

Germany's Cardinal Ratzinger named new pope

Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter\'s Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday.

Cardinals meet to prepare for papal vote

Twelve pallbearers flanked by Swiss Guards hold Pope John Paul II’s body Monday before it was carried into St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.

Pope prays for peace in Christmas message

Pope John Paul II welcomes two young boys wearing colorful costumes during the celebrationn of the midnight Christmas mass in St. Peter\'s Basilica Saturday.

Pope calls for peace in Christmas message

Pope John Paul II arrives in St. Peter\'s Basilica at the Vatican to celebrate a midnight Christmas Eve Mass, Thursday.

Multitudes pay final respects to pope

Pope John Paul II\'s body is carried across St. Peter\'s square at the Vatican, Monday, April 4, 2005 on its way for public viewing inside St. Peter\'s Basilica.

Pope makes Christmas appeal for children

Pope Benedict XVI walks past a statue of the Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Midnight Mass in St. Peter\'s Basilica at the Vatican, early Monday, Dec. 25, 2006.

Cruise, Holmes have baby girl named Suri

Tom Cruise, right, and Katie Holmes kiss on Via della Conciliazione boulevard near St. Peter\'s Basilica, as they arrive for the David di Donatello Italian film awards, in Rome, in this April 29, 2005 file photo.

On Christmas, pope prays for Mideast peace

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims and faithful after delivering his \'\'Urbi et Orbi\'\' message (Latin for \'\'to the city and to the world\'\') from the velvet-draped loggia of the St. Peter\'s Basilica at the V

Pope sees signs of hope in Middle East

Pope Benedict XVI kneels as he celebrates the Christmas Midnight Mass in St. Peter\'s Basilica at the Vatican, early Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005, his first Christmas service since becoming pontiff, blessing thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Ro

Pope Francis

Pope Francis on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who chose the name of Francis is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

Jorge Mario Bergoglio

Pope Francis flanked by Monsignor Guido Marini, master of liturgical ceremonies, waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who chose the name of Francis is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Vatican Pope Knights of Malta

Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of a mass celebrated by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to mark the 900th anniversary of the Order of the Knights of Malta in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Vatican Pope Knights of Malta

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone celebrates a mass to mark the 900th anniversary of the Order of the Knights of Malta, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. The Knights of Malta, one of the most peculiar organizations in the world, is marking its 900th birthday with a colorful procession through St. Peter's Square, a Mass in the basilica and an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The Knights are at once a Catholic religious order, an aid group that runs soup kitchens, hospitals and ambulance services around the globe, and a sovereign entity that prints its own passports and enjoys diplomatic relations with 104 countries — yet has no country to call its own. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Benedict XVI, Matthew Festing, Tarcisio Bertone

Grand Master of the Knights of Malta Matthew Festing, right, reads his message for Pope Benedict XVI, center, at the end of a mass celebrated by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, left, to mark the 900th anniversary of the Order of the Knights of Malta in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. The Knights of Malta, one of the most peculiar organizations in the world, is marking its 900th birthday with a colorful procession through St. Peter's Square, a Mass in the basilica and an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The Knights are at once a Catholic religious order, an aid group that runs soup kitchens, hospitals and ambulance services around the globe, and a sovereign entity that prints its own passports and enjoys diplomatic relations with 104 countries — yet has no country to call its own. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Vatican Pope

Pope Francis flanked by Monsignor Guido Marini, master of liturgical ceremonies, waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who chose the name of Francis is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Benedict XVI

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2005 file photo Pope Benedict XVI wipes his face during a solemn adoration of the Eucharist in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. On Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 Benedict XVI announced he would resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, files)

Benedict XVI

FILE - This April 19, 2005 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI greeting the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica moments after being elected, at the Vatican. On Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 Benedict XVI announced he would resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis/FILE)

Heavy rains pound Italy, Rome declares emergency

A view of St. Peter's Basilica as a swollen Tiber River flows beneath the Sant'Angelo Bridge, in Rome, on Friday, Dec. 12, 2008. Residents in some neighborhoods of Rome were on alert Friday for possible overflowing of the River Tiber as heavy rain battering much of the country caused three more deaths, officials said.

Pope Benedict XVI

FILE - In this April 9, 2009 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI offers a nun the Holy Communion, a Chrism Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, as Benedict XVI celebrated a Holy Thursday Mass that included the traditional blessing of holy oils - some of which the church will send to an earthquake zone as a sign of closeness to the stricken population. Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, he would resign Feb. 28 because he is simply too old to carry on. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

Pope greets Christmas with appeal for children

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 6:32 pm

VATICAN CITY -  Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass early Thursday by sending out an appeal for children who are abused, forced to live on the street or serve as soldiers.

Officials to stop line to see pope's body

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 5:35 am

VATICAN CITY - Overwhelmed Italian officials said they will cut off the line of pilgrims hoping to see Pope John Paul II's body at St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday evening as a massive line snaked down a wide boulevard, through ancient alleyways and onto a bridge.

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