1.   But this week they will be sitting directly across the table from Castrillon Hoyos, one of three Vatican cardinals representing the pope.

2.   Controversy has arisen over these seeming attempts to gain endorsements from religious leaders, ranging from Vatican cardinals to the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

3.   A religion bill passed by the Russian parliament will hurt the Roman Catholic church and make dialogue with the Orthodox more difficult, a top Vatican cardinal said Thursday.

4.   After stops in Norway, Germany and Switzerland, Garang arrived in Rome for meetings with party leaders, government officials and a key Vatican cardinal.

5.   But a top Vatican cardinal said otherwise on Saturday as the pope visited Fatima to beatify two of the three children from the story.

6.   Last month, a Vatican cardinal, just back from Moscow said there was the possibility of reciprocal invitations to various millennium events by each side.

7.   The pope and several top Vatican cardinals addressed the closed-door meeting before general discussions began.

8.   The three new priests, robed in white, their heads resting in their hands, lay prostrate before Vatican cardinals during the ordination service.

9.   On Thursday, senior Vatican cardinal Josef Ratzinger and Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras said separately that the pope could step down if his health deteriorated further.