Rome  - The Vatican has admitted to "errors" in its handling of a decision to reinstate four ultra-nationalist bishops, including a failure to do internet research that might have raised alarm bells about some of the bishops' beliefs, an Italian newspaper reported Wednesday.

According to Rome-based daily Il Foglio, Pope Benedict XVI conceded the errors in the decision making process to revoke the excommunication of the bishops, one of whom embarrassed the church by denying the scale of the Holocaust.

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI condemned on Wednesday the recent killings in Northern Ireland, which have sparked fears of a new wave of violence which for decades marred relations between the province's Catholic and Protestant communities.

"It was with deep sorrow that I learned of the murders of two young British soldiers and a policeman in Northern Ireland," Benedict said during his traditional mid-week General Audience.

New York  - The World Jewish Congress welcomed on Monday the planned visit to the Holy Land in May by Pope Benedict XVI, suggesting that his presence would ease some of the controversies between the Vatican and Israel.

Benedict announced on Sunday his intention to make the pilgrimage from May 8 to 15, starting with a stop in Jordan and then Israel and Palestinian territories. It would be the third visit by a Roman Catholic pontiff to the Holy Land.

Rome  - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday officially announced the dates for his p

Rome - The Catholic Church does not seek to contradict Darwin's theory of evolution, but it rejects as "absurd" attempts by atheists to use it as proof that God doesn't exist, a Vatican cardinal said Tuesday.

"We believe that however creation has come about and evolved, ultimately God is the creator of all things," Cardinal William Levada said.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI recalling Sunday how angels had helped Jesus spurn the Devil, urged the faithful to pray that he and his Vatican aides may also be "watched over" by the traditionally winged beings.

The pontiff in his midday Angelus message, referred to the Gospel of St Mark story, in which Jesus spends 40 days in the desert and rejects several gifts and offers made to him by Satan.

"Almost fleetingly, in this brief account, the angels appear luminous and mysterious before the dark figure who dares tempt the Lord (Jesus)," Benedict told thousands gathered in St Peter's Square.