Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday sent condolences to the victims of the attacks in Mumbai, India, saying such terrorist acts "gravely offend the human family."

Benedict's message was contained in a telegram sent by the Vatican to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Mumbai, Cardinal Oswald Gracias.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI's spokesman on Thursday renewed an appeal for the release of two Italian Roman Catholic nuns believed to have been abducted from Kenya by Somali Islamists earlier this month.

"More than a fortnight has passed since the two Italian nuns, Sister Maria Teresa Olivero and Sister Caterina Giraudo, were abducted in Kenya, where they are well-known for their generous dedication to the very poor," Father Federico Lombardi said in Vatican statement.

Benedict was following "the protraction of their kidnapping with concern," Lombardi said.

Vatican City - Diplomatic "contacts" are under way for a possible visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Israel and the Palestinian Territories in 2009, the papal spokesman said Thursday.

Father Federico Lombardi was commenting on a report by an Israeli newspaper that the pontiff was set to visit the Holy Land in May 2009.

Lombardi said no definite date had been set since the Vatican was still "studying" the situation.

Tel Aviv-based daily Haaretz said in its online English version that Benedict had accepted an invitation by Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Vatican City - The Vatican inaugurated Wednesday its new solar power energy system, which will heat the hall where Pope Benedict XVI holds his weekly general audience - in a move in keeping with the pontiff's concern for environmental issues.

Benedict, together with the visiting Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Aram I, joined hundreds of people gathered in the Paul VI Hall, inside Vatican City, for the ceremony.

Built in 1971, the structure, one of the Vatican's most modern, recently had its 5,000 square-metre roof covered by 2,400 photovoltaic panels.

Vatican City - World famous tenor Placido Domingo is scheduled to unveil next week in Rome a new album of songs inspired by poems penned by the late pope John Paul II, the Vatican said Friday.

The album, Amore Infinito (Infinite Love), features 12 songs, including Domingo performing duets with US gospel singer Vanessa Williams and with his son Placido Domingo Jr, according to details posted by Italian online shop ibs. it

The Spanish-Mexican Domingo, also known as one of the celebrated Three Tenors - together with Jose Carreras the late Luciano Pavarotti - is set present the recording at a Vatican news conference on November 28.

Vatican City - School certificates from Catholic schools and church weddings officiated by priests will receive legal recognition in Brazil under an accord reached Thursday between Brazil and the Vatican.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister Celso Amorin inked the accord for Brazil in a Vatican City signing ceremony. Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone and the Holy See's "foreign minister" Dominique Mamberti signed the agreement for their side.