At midday today, before praying the Angelus, Benedict XVI recalled how the first Sunday of July was once dedicated to devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Christ, a tradition confirmed “by Blessed John XXIII who, in his Apostolic Letter ‘Inde a primis’ of 30 June 1960, explained its significance and approved its litanies”.
Addressing [...]

The Pope sent a letter to Silvio Berlusconi, Italian prime minister, for the forthcoming meeting of the heads of State and Government of the industrialised countries (G8), due to take place in the Italian city of L’Aquila from 8 to 10 July.
John Paul II, writes Benedict XVI, “was convinced that freeing the poorest countries [...]