Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the “victory of peace” in the Middle East, as his special envoy led the faithful in prayers in Lebanon, where a UN-brokered ceasefire appeared to be holding today.

WHAT do a priest, Miss Germany, a spiritual healer and a diehard communist all have in common?

The pope’s envoy said he came away from his meeting in Baghdad with Saddam Hussein convinced that peace is possible. Cardinal Roger Etchegaray described the Iraqi leader “very open to dialogue.”

IRAQ gloated over the global outpouring of opposition to the US threat of attack yesterday, saying anti-war demonstrations in dozens of countries signalled an Iraqi victory and “the defeat and isolation of America”.

Iraq gloated over the global outpouring of opposition to the US threat of attack today, saying anti-war demonstrations in dozens of countries signalled an Iraqi victory and “the defeat and isolation of America”.

Saddam Hussein today met a special envoy of Pope John Paul II as part of international efforts to resolve the Iraq crisis peacefully.

POPE John Paul II will dispatch an envoy to Iraq in a plea for peace and to encourage Baghdad to co-operate with the United Nations, the Vatican said yesterday.

Pope John Paul today described his great relief over the end of the 39-day siege and the resumption of religious services at Bethlehem’s Nativity church.