Pope 'Can't Pray' Thanks to Broken Wrist

Woman clears barrier at Vatican, knocks down pontiff

(NEWSER) - A woman jumped the barriers in St. Peter's Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI tonight as he walked down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass, a Vatican spokesman says. The pope was not hurt and quickly got up. Benedict, 82, calmly resumed his walk to the basilica's main altar and began celebrating Mass, which started 2 hours earlier than the traditional midnight in deference to the pontiff's age, reports the AP . More»

(NEWSER) - Pope Benedict XVI has joined Guns n' Roses and Snoop Dogg on Geffen records' roster of artists and plans to have an album out in time for Christmas, the Guardian reports. The pontiff won't be crooning holiday standards, however. The album will feature Benedict singing a prayer and reciting litanies in several languages, accompanied by some contemporary classical music. More»

'Will collaborate with investigators to ascertain the truth,' says lawyer

(NEWSER) - The butler allegedly did it, and now he's ready to cooperate with police. Pope Benedict's butler Paolo Gabriele has agreed to assist in the investigation into leaks of Vatican documents after officials reportedly found confidential files in his home , according to law enforcement authorities. Gabriele's lawyer said his client would "respond to all the questions, and will collaborate with investigators to ascertain the truth." More»

Paolo Gabriele is arrested after allegedly leaking Benedict's letters

(NEWSER) - An in-house scandal at the Vatican expanded dramatically yesterday with the arrest of the pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele, who was found with confidential documents on him and has been accused of leaking the private letters of Benedict XVI to the press, reports the New York Times . The Vatican confirmed today that Gabriele has been arrested in the enfolding "Vatileaks" scandal, notes AP . The arrest comes just after the ouster of the president of the Vatican Bank over standards at the bank. More»

Pontiff will also mark 7th anniversary as pope

(NEWSER) - Staring down both his 85th birthday and the seventh anniversary of his papacy, Pope Benedict today asked the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for both prayers and strength, reports the AP . "Next Thursday, on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of my election to the See of Peter, I ask for your prayers, so that the Lord gives me the strength to fulfill the mission he entrusted to me." Benedict's birthday is tomorrow; the pontiff will celebrate with older brother Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, who has flown in from Germany. More»