PALERMO, Italy, Feb 20 (Reuters) – A live rock band and a
charismatic warm-up act set the stage on Wednesday for the man
introduced to Sicilians – whose votes matter more than most in
an election in a few days’ time – as “Italy’s next prime
minister”.

The American-style build-up meant Pier Luigi Bersani, the
leader of the Democratic Party (PD), struggled to make his
rhetoric match the occasion, as he addressed the party faithful
in a rally in one of two crucial swing regions.

ROME (Reuters) – American and Italian Catholics have called for a U.S. cardinal accused of covering up sexual abuse by priests not to take part in electing a new pope, saying he would taint the new pontiff with the same scandal that dogged Benedict.

Italy’s best-selling magazine Famiglia Cristiana – “Christian Family” – asked its readers whether Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles until 2011, should attend the conclave that elects a successor to Pope Benedict next month – and the overwhelming answer was “no”.

ROME (Reuters) – Across the road from the Colosseum, the ancient Roman stadium consecrated as a holy Christian site, clients at a busy bar are raising a glass to the pope: toasting the departure of the worst Church leader they can imagine.

For drinkers in Rome’s best known gay bar, Benedict’s abdication is a blessing.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Foreign tourists and Romans packed into St. Peter’s Square on Sunday for one of the last chances in history to see Pope Benedict, whose resignation caused more surprise than sadness.

“I was just excited that we were going to get to see him before he resigned, and thought it would be cool to be in Rome with something like that happening,” said Shea Wild, an American student who had planned the trip before Benedict’s shock decision to step down.

VATICAN CITY, Feb 15 (Reuters) – The Vatican appointed
German lawyer Ernst von Freyberg on Friday to head its bank,
filling a post left vacant since May when the previous chief was
ousted from the scandal-tainted institution.

The appointment, made by a commission of cardinals, was
approved by Pope Benedict and is likely one of his last major
decisions before he resigns at the end of the month, a move he
announced on Monday, stunning Catholics around the world.

DUBAI (Reuters) – Western embassies across the Muslim world remained on high alert on Sunday and the United States urged vigilance after days of anti-American violence provoked by a video mocking the Prophet Mohammad.

The head of Libya’s national assembly said an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans last Tuesday looked like a planned assault by a “group with an agenda” rather than a spontaneous reaction to the video posted online.

DUBAI (Reuters) – Western embassies across the Muslim world remained on high alert on Sunday and the United States urged vigilance after days of anti-American violence provoked by a video mocking the Prophet Mohammad.

Germany followed the U.S. lead and withdrew some staff from its embassy in Sudan, which was stormed on Friday.

TEHRAN, Jan 29 (Reuters) – U.N. nuclear inspectors
arrived in Iran on Sunday, hoping to shed light on suspected
military aspects of Tehran’s atomic work, on the day its
lawmakers look set to ban oil exports to Europe in revenge for
new EU sanctions.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency
delegation said he aimed to “resolve all the outstanding issues
with Iran” over the nuclear programme which the West believes is
aimed at making weapons but which Iran insists is peaceful.

TEHRAN, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Fighting sanctions with
sanctions in a trial of strength with the West over its nuclear
ambitions, Iran warned on Friday it may halt oil exports to
Europe next week in a move calculated to hurt ailing European
economies.

At the same time, the government in Tehran, grappling with
its own economic crisis under Western trade and banking
embargoes, will host a rare visit on Sunday by U.N.
nuclear inspectors for talks that the ruling clergy may hope can
relieve diplomatic pressure as they struggle to bolster public
support.