Pope Benedict XVI hopes to visit New York and Lourdes, France, in 2008, and also plans to deliver an important speech to diplomats during his upcoming trip to Vienna, the Vatican spokesman said Sunday.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi did not specify what the speech would cover during the pope's Sept. 7-9 trip to Austria. Lombardi said Benedict would deliver an "internationally important" speech to diplomats accredited to Vienna-based international organizations.
In his remarks, Benedict noted that a year from this weekend marks the start of World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia — and he urged young people "from every continent" to make the trip, which he himself hopes to make as well....