Benedict

By Barbara Serra in Europe on November 6th, 2010
Photo from Reuters

Remember that feeling you had at school when, having had a whole year to prepare, you sat down surrounded by papers and books the night before an exam, trying to cram everything in at the last minute? Well, replace the exam with building a cathedral, and if the school year had started in 1882, you’d get some idea of how the team behind Barcelona’s main attraction is feeling right now.

Pope Benedict 16th is in town to consecrate the Sagrada Familia, a church which, even after 128 years of construction, is still very far from finished. A look at its intricate towers gives an indication as to why it’s taking so long. The architect who designed it all those years ago is Antoni Gaudi. His style is elaborate and unique.

By Al Jazeera Staff in Europe on September 16th, 2010

18:30 GMT: Right, that's it from me for the day. Hope you enjoyed the coverage. Don't forget to check back for more updates tomorrow, and remember, you can follow this and other world news 24 hours a day by tuning into Al Jazeera English, or online at www.aljazeera.net/english. But I'm guessing you knew that...

18:23 GMT: Susan Boyle is back on stage, and the first day of the Pope's visit to Britain is over. He will now head to London to spend the night there, ahead of a visit to Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canturbury, scheduled for Friday.    

18:11 GMT:  Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reports from the mass: "What the pope got here in Glasgow was what we would have expected from the fathful. It's not just Scots that are here; we've seen flags from all over Europe.

By Alan Fisher in Europe on September 15th, 2010
Photo by EPA

In 1982, Pope John Paul II came to Britain. The charismatic Pole drew huge crowds wherever he went. The Catholic Church was reinvigorated. People spoke of the feel good factor he left in his wake.

Twenty eight years on, Pope Benedict will come on a short state visit which has already been plagued by discontent and threats of protest.

There are three main reasons why events during this Papal visit might still not be sold out, why people are questioning the wisdom of a visit right now.

First there is church dogma.

Despite strong medical evidence that condoms help prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that can lead to Aids and that they can help with population control, particularly in poorer countries, the Catholic Church still believes their use is sinful, that they are against God's teachings. Many Catholics believe this - and the Church's position on homosexuality - are out of step with society.

By John Terrett in Americas on April 16th, 2010
AFP photo
It matters little to Daniel Montgomery whether Pope Benedict slowed the defrocking of a Tucson priest who he says sexually abused him when he was seven - all he knows is that he can't forget it.
 
“There's not a day that goes by I don't think about what happened to me ... everyday"
 
Daniel received a substantial sum of money from the Diocese of Tucson after suing over sexual abuse he says took place in the confessional at Our Mother of Sorrows church by Father Michael Teta - a priest his family regarded as a friend.
 
"I can smell his breath right now and remember what it ... him breathing on me"
 

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