Pope to set agenda before going on summer holiday

Pope Benedict XVI has a number of important decision to make this week, before he sets off on his annual summer holiday.

A new evangelization council is to be set up, headed by Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, to combat the increasing religious apathy of the West.

The pope is also set to meet with former German bishop Walter Mixa, who resigned from his post in April after admitting that he had slapped teenagers and helped himself to orphanage funds 30 years ago.

Mixa has since claimed that he was under pressure when he resigned from his position as bishop of Augsburg and has asked for his job back.

SIC: ET