During the year 2007, almost 3
million faithful participated in
public meetings with the Pope,
either in the Vatican or at his
summer residence of
Castelgandolfo.

At the end of the concert, the Holy Father recalled that Beethoven
composed his final symphony in
1824, after a period of isolation
and difficulty “which threatened
to suffocate his artistic
creativity.”
Yet the composer “surprised the public with a composition that
broke with the traditional structure of the symphony.”

As media reported, the government of Iran is preparing to ask for Vatican mediation to stave off a possible crisis in relations with the United States.

As reported, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will soon be received
into the Catholic Church. His formal conversion will take place at a Mass
in the private chapel in London.

As media reported, the Beijing-
recognized Chinese Catholic
Patriotic Association recently
appointed a new bishop; he has
publicly declared his loyalty
to the Pope.

Both the International Olympic
Committee and the Beijing
Organizing Committee have
verified that the Bible and
other religious materials will be
permitted in the Olympic Village
for personal use during the 2008
Olympic Games.

Evening at Dec 14, Cardinal
Giovanni Lajolo, president of the
Governorate of Vatican City State,
presided at the official lighting
ceremony of the Christmas tree
which has been erected in St.
Peter’s Square.The tree stands
next to nativity scene, which is in the process of being constructed.

As media reported, this is the first time in over 50 years that the Vatican paper has carried news on the ordination of a new bishop in mainland
China. This draws hope to those in the Vatican that their dealing
with China will continue to improve.

Dialogue between Muslims and Catholics entered a new phase recently
as Pope Benedict replied to a letter from the138 Muslims leaders and
proposed that the dialogue be centered on human dignity and religious
freedom.

A leading American demographer seen a “slow-motion
humanitarian tragedy” in China,
caused by the government’s
draconian family-planning policies.