Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday met Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, for talks at the Vatican which focused on the central African country's security situation.

The pontiff received Kabila at the Apostolic Palace overlooking St Peter's Square for a meeting which lasted 15 minutes.

Benedict, speaking in French, greeted Kabila and then asked him how things were in civil war-scarred Congo, to which the president replied: "A little better."

A meeting between the two had been scheduled in December 2007 but was cancelled due to a fresh outbreak of fighting in Congo, Italian news reports said.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI received Thursday a group of bishops from Bangladesh, urging them do more to help men and women in their country prepare for married life.

"Many of your people suffer from poverty, isolation or discrimination, and they look to you for spiritual guidance," Benedict told the prelates during a meeting at the Vatican.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI has composed a prayer for Catholics in China through which, among other things, they would seek inspiration to remain faithful to Rome.

The Vatican on Friday issued the prayer - in eight languages including traditional and simplified Chinese - saying the pontiff had penned it for the "Day of Prayer for the Church in China" scheduled for May 24.

Vatican City - A recording of Pope Benedict XVI reciting the Rosary in Latin

Vatican City - US news magazine Time has left out Pope Benedict XVI from