Rome  - Father Eberhard von Gemmingen is not just the editor- in-chief of the German department of Vatican Radio - he is also one of the first people to interview the then newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI in August 2005.

The man who has emerged among critics of the way the Vatican has been handling the whole affair involving the pardoning of Holocaust- denier Richard Williamson is, first and foremost, a pastor.

Berlin  - The German wing of the ultra-conservative Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) declared Thursday its support for Bishop Richard Williamson, whilst distancing itself from his anti-Holocaust rhet

Vatican City - The Vatican Wednesday said an ultra- conservative bishop needs "clearly and publicly" to distance himself from remarks he made denying the Holocaust, before he can "assume functions" within the Roman Catholic Church.

The Vatican in a statement also said Pope Benedict XVI was not aware of Richard Williamson's stance on the Holocaust when the pontiff last month revoked a 1988 excommunication order against him and three other bishops of the renegade Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday called for an end to the armed conflict in Sri Lanka that, he said, was claiming "many innocent victims". The pontiff, speaking during his weekly general audience, said he was "concerned" by the situation in the south-eastern Asian island- state, where government troops are fighting Tamil rebels.

According to United Nations officials some 52 civilians were killed during clashes on Tuesday.

An estimated 250,000 civilians are trapped in the island's north- eastern conflict zone.

Rome/Berlin  - The outrage over the decision by Pope Benedict XVI to readmit to the church a traditionalist bishop, known for his denial of the Holocaust, is showing no signs of abating in the pontiff's native Germany.

The pope's decision to pardon four ultra-conservative bishops, who run the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), was intended as an act of reconciliation within the Catholic church.

But the timing could hardly have been worse.

Vienna  - Catholic priests in Austria on Sunday criticized the Vatican for naming an ultraconservative priest as auxiliary bishop in Linz on Saturday without having consulted the local church.

The designated bishop, Gerhard Wagner, has made headlines in the past when he condemned JK Rowling's Harry Potter books for its "satanist" content.

He also suggested in 2005 that Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment, as it destroyed five abortion clinics as well as nightclubs in New Orleans.

"I am not very happy about this, since I get the general impression that there was no attempt to communicate with the diocese," Hans Padinger, spokesman of the priests in Linz, told Austrian broadcaster ORF.