CONFIRMED: Pope Benedict to visit United Nations

The Australian papers had it first by my count:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Pope Benedict XVI has accepted his invitation to visit UN headquarters "at a mutually convenient time".

Mr Ban said today he had extended the invitation to the pope during his recent visit to Rome.

"I'm very much happy that he accepted my invitation to visit the United Nations," said Mr Ban after returning from a tour of Italy, Switzerland, Qatar and Syria.

The pope's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, visited UN headquarters in 1979 and in 1995 for the 40th anniversary of the institution.

This is big news. It means the Pope is coming to U.S. soil as early as next year.

Update: Thanks to Marketa (who by the way, wins the contest for coolest MySpace profile picture):

Thomas, it's official, look at first post of Teresa Benedetta:

VATICAN CITY, April 26 (APcom) - The Vatican confirms that Pope Benedict XVI has made himself 'available' an has in fact accepted the invitation of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moom to visit United Nations headquarters in New York.

Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press Office, confirmed today the Holy Father's acceptance but said a date has yet to be set.

He added, "It is not foreseeable in 2007, because no other foreign trips are planned this year."

There you have it!