Papacy and the Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI, at right in white, listens on during the inauguration of the new building of the Institute Paul VI in Concesio, near Brescia, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. The pontiff made a one-day pilgrimage Sunday to northern Italy to pay tribute to Paul VI, his predecessor who made him a cardinal. Paul VI was elected pope in 1963, taking over from John XXIII who began the Second Vatican Council, a landmark initiative to modernize the policies and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Paul led the council to its completion, which Benedict attended as an up-and-coming theologian.