From the NewsMax.com Staff

For the story behind the story...

Pope Prays for Freedom From War, Terrorism

Reprint Information

Book on Katie Couric Makes Waves White House: We're Not Subject to FOIA FBI Seeks 2 Mysterious Men on Ferry Publisher: Conservatives Do Read As Much As Liberals Romney Shrugs Off Mormon History Film

Pope Benedict XVI prayed Monday for the world to be freed from wars and terrorism as he visited a shrine dedicated to love.

Benedict flew by helicopter from the Vatican to the 265-year-old Divine Love Shrine on the outskirts of Rome for an early evening visit. In 1944, Romans built a new church on the site as a way of improving their moral conduct in a gesture of thanksgiving after the city was liberated from German occupation during World War II.

"Even today there is need for conversion to God, to the God of love so that the world is freed from wars and from terrorism," Benedict said after praying at the shrine.

He recalled the three Italian troops who were killed last week in a bombing in southern Iraq, where an Italian military contingent is involved in reconstruction.

© 2006 Associated Press.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note:
Pope Benedict XVI – Find Out What He Really Believes – Click Here Now

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Pope Benedict XVI

Inside Cover Stories
FBI Seeks 2 Mysterious Men on Ferry

Publisher: Conservatives Do Read As Much As Liberals

Romney Shrugs Off Mormon History Film

Bob Grant to Return to Radio

Carville Seeks Perfect '08 Bumper Sticker More Inside Cover Stories