Pope Benedict gives World Cup his blessing

POPE Benedict will watch the most important matches of next year’s World Cup and believes Germany has a strong side, World Cup chief Franz Beckenbauer said after meeting the Pontiff yesterday.

Beckenbauer, popularly known as the Kaiser, handed the Pope a 2006 World Cup pennant at the brief audience.

“He was very interested (in the World Cup),” Beckenbauer said after the meeting. The Pontiff asked for “information about the organisation of the event and even about the stadiums where the teams will play.”