The Pope Benedict XVI followed the ritual of the traditional Roman Catholic Holy Week. He washed the feet of twelve priests. The ceremony of the Easter Sunday morning was dealt with beauty and perfection.

Sao Paulo - The collapse of the roof during services at a large Pentecostal church Sunday night in central Sao Paulo left at least nine people dead, authorities said Monday.

The failure of the structure left some 110 people injured, 19 of whom remained in hospital - one of them in very serious condition.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Christmas midnight Mass on Wednesday, and commemorating Jesus' humble birth, drew attention to the plight of the poor and of children suffering neglect and abuse.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI late Wednesday led the Vatican's Christmas festivities by celebrating the traditional Midnight Mass, calling for the protection of children around the world.

Bethlehem, West Bank  - The top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land prayed and called for world peace on Christmas Day early Thursday as he led the traditional Midnight Mass in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Rome - Pope Benedict XVI late Wednesday led the Vatican's Christmas festivities by celebrating the traditional Midnight Mass.

Bethlehem, West Bank  - The top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land prayed and called for world peace early Thursday, as he led the traditional Midnight Mass in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem, West Bank  - One of the most sacred and most venerated sites in Christianity, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem marks the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Amsterdam  - Amsterdam's mayor Job Cohen was due to light a Jewish chandelier on Tuesday, marking the third day of the Jewish Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah.

The festive lighting of the so-called Hanukkiah, or Hanukkah Menorah, which is three metres tall and one-and-a-half metres wide, was due to take place at 6 pm (1700 GMT) at the central Dam Square in Amsterdam.