Pope Benedict XVI has made around five million euros (6.6 million
dollars) from royalties on his books since he was elected pope in 2005,
Vatican officials said on Friday.
Some 2.4 million euros of the
proceeds will finance research on the pope's own theological teachings
through a Vatican foundation in his name.
The Joseph
Ratzinger-Benedict XVI foundation was set up earlier this year to
"promote research and studies on the thinking of professor Joseph
Ratzinger."
The rest of the money will go to charity, officials said.
A
book of interviews with Benedict in which he talks candidly about
issues including sexuality and child abuse was released this week and is
selling fast.
SIC: AFP/INT'L