Where have the crowds gone? Fewer people are attending Pope Benedict’s regular audiences.

This pope is less popular than his predecessor – and becoming less so each year. Don’t take my word for it. Ask the Vatican.

This week, it released figures for the number of people in 2008 who had attended Benedict’s public appearances – his weekly audiences, his liturgical celebrations and the Angelus prayers he offers up at noon on Sunday in St Peter’s square. By looking at those for previous years, it can be seen there is a clear – and abrupt – downward trend.

This year’s tally of 2,215,000 is more than 20% lower than that of 2007. And last year’s total was, in turn, more than 12% down on the figure for 2006, the first full year of Benedict’s reign. Read Article

By John Hooper