St. Louisans attend private papal audience

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Rome — People from St. Louis and other archdioceses attended a private audience today Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. About 1,000 attended the papal address in the Sala Nervi at the Vatican.

The audience was for guests and pilgrims in Rome for the pallium Mass, which was held Monday at St. Peter’s Basilica

Two pilgrims from St Louis — Peggy Forrest, chairwoman of the 2009 Annual Catholic Appeal and 11-year-old Robert Belken of Farmington were invited by Archbishop Carlson to meet the Holy Father at the end of the audience.

Photos by Teak Phillips/Review

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James Themig of Corrales, N.M. and Anita Cassily of St. Louis applaud the arrival of the pope.

Pope Benedict XVI addresses the pilgrims attending the private audience.

James Themig gets a closer look of the pontif, who was about 40 yards from Themig's seat.

John Sailer of West Bloomfield, Mich., who is travelling on the pilgrimage , snaps a photo of the pope.

Archbishop Robert Carlson greets the Holy Father by kissing his ring after the pope read his message.