VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has met athletes participating in the swimming world championships in Rome and hailed them as an example for fellow youths.

Benedict blessed and shook hands with organizers and athletes in the courtyard of his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo in the hills outside Rome, and praised their “exciting performance.”
He playfully put on sports hats the athletes gave him and triumphantly raised a plush green frog — the mascot of the Rome championships.
Among those handing the gifts to Benedict on Saturday were Italy’s double gold medallist Federica Pellegrini and fellow German Paul Biedermann, who beat Michael Phelps in the 200-meter freestyle on Tuesday.
The American skipped the audience to rest before a race.