Vatican prepares to inaugurate Benedict

POPE Benedict XVI held his first working meeting with the College of Cardinals yesterday as authorities began gearing up for the influx of dignitaries and 500,000 faithful expected for the Pope’s inauguration tomorrow.

Italian civil protection officials estimate about 100,000 people from Benedict's native Germany will travel to Rome for the ceremony and Rome was bringing in volunteers from Italy's German-speaking north to help. Monday is a national holiday, and Italians are expected to converge on the Eternal City to take advantage of the long weekend.

A day after confirming the entire Vatican hierarchy in a seamless transition of Church leadership, Benedict met the College of Cardinals for the first working session, taking time to greet each cardinal and exchange a few words.