A high-level Vatican delegation wrapped up its weeklong visit to Vietnam with the two sides proposing the formation of a working group on bilateral ties, officials said Monday.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Thursday afternoon. The meeting kicked off the process of establishing official diplomatic relations between the communist country and the Holy See, to the delight of Vietnamese Catholics. From Hanoi, Matt Steinglass has more.

Pope Benedict XVI's talks Thursday with Vietnam's prime minister mark an important step toward establishing diplomatic relations, the Vatican said after the highest-level meeting between the Holy See and the communist government following decades of tension.

Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday said the church will pursue efforts to form diplomatic ties with Beijing as it tries to help its "suffering" faithful there. Church officials are holding a summit at the Vatican to map out the church's strategy with China since it broke off diplomatic relations with the country in 1951. For VOA, Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

Pope Benedict in his traditional Christmas message Urbi et Orbi says that while the humanity has advanced in technology and science people continue to die of hunger and thirst, disease and poverty. Pope also spoke against consumerism and says that our world needs the savior Jesus.

Pope Benedict XVI urged the world to love children more and wished peace for our world during his Christmas homily of the Midnight Mass On December 25, 2006. At St. Peter's Basilica the pope issued a special call to protect children who are abused, forced to beg and are unloved. Read the full text of the Christmas Homily of His Holiness.

Pope Benedict XVI spoke out against the legal recognition of unmarried couples during his Christmas address to Rome clergy. He also spoke of Europe and of his visits to Turkey and the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz earlier this year. The pope this week has also been urging to defend the spirit of Christmas against secular trends. For VOA, Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI, in a parting message of goodwill to Muslims at the end of his first papal trip to a predominantly Muslim nation, said Friday that the Vatican wishes to "impose nothing on anyone."

He is yet to arrive, but Turks are already protesting. Pope Benedict XVI on November 28 kicks off a controversial, four-day visit to Turkey, his first trip to a mostly Muslim country.

Thousands of demonstrators are gathering in Istanbul today to protest against Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to Turkey: a predominantly Muslim country.

The Vatican's office for health care has concluded a study on the use of condoms in the fight against AIDS, and the long-awaited report on it is now being examined by the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, a senior cardinal said Tuesday.

Turkey must be ready for Pope Benedict 16th visit to Ankara and Istanbul starting November 28, which, according to the Turkish "Radikal," will be rather difficult.