Vatican sources: Papal trip to U.N. headquarters unlikely this year

Published: 2007-04-27

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI accepted an invitation to visit U.N. headquarters in New York City, but Vatican sources said the trip looked unlikely for this year. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters April 26 that during their recent meeting at the Vatican he asked the pope to come "at a mutually convenient time." Ban said, "I am very happy that he accepted my invitation to visit." Attention had focused on a possible papal visit in September for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly. Vatican sources said that date now looked improbable, and that no steps were being taken for a U.N. visit this year.

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