Pope Benedict in televised question and answer programme

History was made today when Benedict XVI became the first Pope to taken part in a televised question and answer programme.

Seven questions were chosen from thousands submitted for the Pope to answer during the 80-minute programme which was broadcast by the Italian Rai channel. Viewers saw a split screen, with the Pope sitting in the Vatican library and those asking questions filmed near their homes. The Holy Father responded to questions in Italian.

The first question was asked by a seven-year-old Japanese girl who had seen some of her friends die in the recent earthquake and tsunami. She asked why God allows children to suffer.

The Pope replied that he had also asked himself the same question. "We do not have the answers but we know that Jesus suffered as you do," he said.

When a Muslim woman in the Ivory Coast asked his advice on how to cope with the conflict in her country, he said people should look to Christ as an example of peace.

"Violence never comes from God, never helps bring anything good, but is a destructive means and not the path to escape difficulties," he said.

One question came from the Italian mother of a boy in a long-term coma. She asked if he still had a soul, to which the Pope replied that, yes, his soul is still present in his body.

"The situation, perhaps, is like that of a guitar whose strings have been broken and therefore can no longer play. The instrument of the body is fragile like that, it is vulnerable, and the soul cannot play, so to speak, but remains present."

To see a longer report on the programme go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmLd5ibAK4E