Bolzano, Italy  - Pope Benedict XVI arrived Monday in Bolzano at the foothills of Italy's Dolomite Alps to begin a two week-long holiday that follows a hectic first half of 2008 for the 81-year-old pontiff.

Benedict, who last week returned from an intense 10-day visit to Australia where he presided over World Youth Day celebrations, was greeted in Bolzano by local dignitaries and church officials.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki, was expected to invite Pope Benedict XVI to visit his sectarian strife-torn country during talks scheduled later Friday, Iraq's ambassador to the Vatican said.

The meeting, the first between the two, was set to take place at around noon (1000 GMT) at the pontiff's Castel Gandolfo summer residence in the hills south of Rome.

Sydney  - Pope Benedict XVI is expected to meet sexual abuse victims Monday before leaving Australia at the close of a week-long youth festival that drew 350,000 to its closing mass.

The 81-year-old pontiff thanked 8,000 World Youth Day volunteers at a Sydney harbourside send off amid speculation that he has also met privately with people sexually abused by members of the clergy.

Melbourne, July 20 : While still on his weeklong trip to Australia, Pope Benedict XVI has said that his visit to the country for World Youth Day has been an ‘unforgettable experience’.

The 81-year-old pontiff said that the events during World Youth Day provided him a wonderful, spiritual experience.

"Here in Australia, this ''great south land of the Holy Spirit'', all of us have had an unforgettable experience of the spirit''s presence and power in the beauty of nature," News. com. au quoted him, as saying.

Sydney  - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday named Madrid as host of the next Catholic youth festival.

Speaking at the closing papal mass of the Sydney event, the pontiff urged the 250,000 attending the final gathering of the week- long World Youth Day to join him again in three years.

"I thank you all for your participation in World Youth Day 2008 here in Sydney, and I look forward to seeing you all again in three years' time," the 81-year-old pope said. "World Youth Day 2011 will take place in Madrid, Spain."

Sydney  - A helicopter-borne Pope Benedict XVI swooped over a Sydney racecourse where 235,000 pilgrims spent a chilly overnight vigil in readiness for the Sunday Mass that closes a week-long Catholic youth festival.

Organizers of World Youth Day say as many as 500,000 worshippers could flock to the venue, going into the record books as Australia's biggest-ever crowd.

It's certainly one of the most joyous. Youngsters from over 170 countries waved their national flags and cheered the 81-year-old pontiff.