VATICAN CITY - The Vatican on today denied that its celibacy requirement for priests was the root cause of the clerical sex abuse scandal convulsing the church in Europe and again defended the pope's handling of the crisis.

Suggestions that the celibacy rule was in part responsible for the "deviant behavior" of sexually abusive priests have swirled in recent days, with opinion pieces in German newspapers blaming it for fueling abuse and even Italian commentators questioning the rule.

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican on Sunday denied that its celibacy requirement for priests was the root cause of the clerical sex abuse scandal convulsing the church in Europe and again defended the pope's handling of the crisis.

Suggestions that the celibacy rule was in part responsible for the "deviant behavior" of sexually abusive priests have swirled in recent days, with opinion pieces in German newspapers blaming it for fueling abuse and even Italian commentators questioning the rule.

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican on Saturday denounced what it called aggressive attempts to drag Pope Benedict XVI into the spreading scandals of pedophile priests in his German homeland, and contended he has long confronted abuse cases with courage.

In separate interviews, both the Holy See's spokesman and its prosecutor for sex abuse of minors by clergy sought to defend the pope.

After decades of similar scandals in the United States, Ireland and elsewhere, the sex abuse scandal moved closer to Benedict in recent days.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican rallied around Pope Benedict on Saturday, dismissing suggestions he had tried to cover up priestly child abuse in Germany.

"It's rather clear that in recent days there have been people who have searched -- with notable tenacity in Regensberg and Munich -- for elements to personally involve the Holy Father in the question of the abuses," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told Vatican Radio.

VATICAN CITY | Germany's sex abuse scandal has now reached Pope Benedict XVI: His former archdiocese acknowledged it transferred a suspected pedophile priest while Benedict was in charge and criticism is mounting over a 2001 Vatican directive he penned instructing bishops to keep abuse cases secret.

The revelations have put the spotlight on Benedict's handling of abuse claims both when he was archbishop of Munich from 1977-1982 and then the prefect of the Vatican office that deals with such crimes - a position he held until his 2005 election as pope.

VATICAN CITY-Germany's sex abuse scandal has now reached Pope Benedict XVI: His former archdiocese disclosed that while he was archbishop a suspected pedophile priest was transferred to a job where he later abused children.

The pontiff is also under increasing fire for a 2001 Vatican document he later penned instructing bishops to keep such cases secret.

The revelations have put the spotlight on Benedict's handling of abuse claims both when he was archbishop of Munich from 1977-1982 and then the prefect of the Vatican office that deals with such crimes -- a position he held until his 2005 election as pope.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican said on Tuesday it was wrong to focus blame for child abuse on the Catholic Church and denied accusations it had sought to cover up pedophilia by its clergymen around Europe.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi acknowledged the "gravity of the crisis the Church is undergoing" after fresh allegations surfaced in recent weeks of widespread sexual abuse by clergymen in Germany, Austria and Holland.

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican says sexual abuse scandals in Germany and other countries are cause for anguish but the church's response has been prompt and transparent.

Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Tuesday that any abuse in the church is "especially deplorable" given its educational and moral responsibilities but the issue of child abuse goes beyond the church.

He said the Roman Catholic Church is willing to commit itself to strategies to help prevent abuse.

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has launched an appeal for support for Christians in the Holy Land, seeking to stem the exodus from the ancient community.

The annual appeal, announced Monday, seeks to raise funds for schools, housing, scholarships and the restoration of Christian sites.

Members of the region's once large and prosperous communities are increasingly leaving conflict-ridden areas, including Iraq and the Palestinian territories, to seek better lives in the West.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI will make a two-day visit to Spain in November, with a stop in Barcelona to consecrate the famed Sagrada Familia church, the Vatican's spokesman said Wednesday.

The pope will first go to the western pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela on Nov. 6, the Rev. Federico Lombardi told reporters. The visit is part of celebrations held whenever the Feast Day of St. James - July 25 - falls on a Sunday, as it does this year.

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican says the number of Catholics as a percentage of the worldwide faithful is growing slightly.

The Holy See says that from 2007 to 2008 Roman Catholics grew from 17.33 percent of the global population to 17.4 percent.

The statistics are included in a yearbook presented Saturday to Pope Benedict XVI.

The yearbook says the number of priests rose from 2000-2008 but that the number of nuns worldwide fell 7.8 percent.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict told Irish bishops during two days of crisis talks over a pedophilia scandal that sexual abuse of children by priests was a "heinous crime" that they must address with resolve, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

"The Holy Father observed that the sexual abuse of children and young people is not only a heinous crime, but also a grave sin which offends God and wounds the dignity of the human person created in his image," a statement said.

vatican city -- call it the vatican's 10 commandments for good listening. the holy see's newspaper saturday published its picks for pop rock paradise, ranging from michael jackson's album "thriller" to pink floyd's "the dark side of the moon

vatican city - pope benedict xvi confirmed monday he would visit britain this year, a trip that follows his move to welcome into the roman catholic church groups of anglicans upset over the ordination of gays and women. no dates were announced

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI has marked Holocaust Remembrance Day by denouncing the "horror" of the Shoah and the "unheard of brutality" of death camps created by Nazi Germany.

The German-born pope issued an appeal Wednesday "that such tragedies never repeat themselves."

Benedict called the death camps "abhorrent and inhumane places" and turned his thoughts to the "countless victims of a blind racial and religious hatred."

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II whipped himself with a belt, even on vacation, and slept on the floor as acts of penitence and to bring him closer to Christian perfection, according to a new book by the Polish prelate spearheading his sainthood case.

The book "Why He's a Saint" also includes previously unpublished speeches and documents written by John Paul, including one 1989 signed memo in which he said he would resign if he became incapacitated.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II decided to forgive his would-be assassin while he was in the ambulance on his way to the hospital moments after being shot in St. Peter's Square, according to a new book by the Polish prelate spearheading his sainthood case.

The revelation is contained in one of the many previously unpublished speeches and memos drafted by John Paul that are contained in the book, including two documents in which he outlined the criteria for which he would resign if he became incapacitated.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI has a new commandment for priests struggling to get their message across: Go forth and blog.

The pope, whose own presence on the Web has heavily grown in recent years, urged priests on Saturday to use all multimedia tools at their disposal to preach the Gospel and engage in dialogue with people of other religions and cultures.

And just using e-mail or surfing the Web is often not enough: Priests should use cutting-edge technologies to express themselves and lead their communities, Benedict said in a message released by the Vatican.

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday acknowledged problems between Catholics and Jews, but insisted there was "great respect" between the two religions, hours before a controversial visit to a Rome synagogue.

The visit has divided Jewish groups because of Benedict's praise and push toward sainthood of wartime pontiff Pius XII, who some critics contend didn't do enough to save Jews during the Holocaust. The Vatican defends Pius, maintaining he used behind-the-scenes diplomacy in a bid to save Jewish lives.

VATICAN CITY-Pope Benedict XVI says despite difficulties there is "great respect" between Catholics and Jews, a few hours before his scheduled visit to a Rome synagogue.

The visit, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, has divided Jewish groups because of Benedict's praise of wartime pontiff Pius XII.

Speaking to pilgrims and tourists from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, Benedict said his visit to the synagogue would be a "further stop on the path of harmony and friendship between Catholics and Jews.