In Brief

Beslan survivors meet Pope
Survivors of the Beslan massacre attended a papal audience earlier this week.
Thirty Russian children who managed to escape from the terrorist attack on their primary school met Pope Benedict XVI.
Following the papal audience, the children were greeted by Archbishop Angelo Comastri and given a tour of the Vatican gardens.
Benedict sees Taize leader
Brother Alois, the new prior of the ecumenical Taize Community, was received by Benedict XVI In a private audience this week.
Brother Alois took over the community after the founder, Brother Roger Schutz, was murdered last August, The audience took place a few days after the conclusion of the European Youth Meeting in Milan. The meeting, organised by the Taize Community, gathered 50,000 young people from all over the continent.
Nuns release ringtones
Nuns in the United States are calling on hi-tech techniques to attract new vocalions. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are offering free ringtones on their website featuring a woman singing the words "called to be", which is part of the nuns' "Peace and All Good" theme song.
"We hope our simple, beautiful ringtone may Inspire young women," said a spokeswoman.
Patriarch seeks end to rift
The spiritual leader of the world's 200 million Orthodox Christians has announced that he is eager to meet Pope Benedict XVI sometime in the coming year in an effort to heal the long-standing rift between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said that the Pope is planning an official visit this year to his headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey.