Pope baptizes newborns in Sistine Chapel, continuing tradition of John Paul

VATICAN CITY - Wails rang out in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday as Pope Benedict XVI baptized 10 newborns, continuing a beloved tradition of Pope John Paul II by personally welcoming some of the newest members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Babies in white lace gowns squirmed in their parents' arms, slept or cried as Benedict poured holy water over their heads to administer the sacrament - his first public baptisms since becoming pope.

"Dear children, with great joy the Christian community welcomes you," Benedict said as he made the sign of the cross on each of the 10 infants' heads.

Benedict disregarded his prepared homily and spoke off-the-cuff to the small gathering of parents, children, godparents and other relatives in the frescoed chapel, telling them that by baptizing the babies, they were ensuring them eternal life with Christ.

He urged the parents to renounce for their children the "anti-culture of death" dominating the world today, which he said was filled with drugs, lies and fraud and an idea of "sexuality that becomes purely diversion without responsibility."

He called on them to accept instead for their children a culture of "true life" that he said was found in Christ.

Benedict often elaborates on his prepared texts but usually only briefly to better explain a particular point.

One of the newborns was named Karol - an apparent homage to John Paul, who was born Karol Wojtyla. John Paul, who died April 2, always seemed to enjoy the baptism Mass, often joking when the children's cries muffled his own words.

Benedict referred to the late pope in comments after the Mass to tourists and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

He said he was overjoyed to follow in John Paul's footsteps by carrying on the baptism tradition, in which "believing parents bring their children to the baptismal font, which represents the 'womb' of the church, from whose holy water are created the children of God."

Sunday's baptism was the first public Mass Benedict has celebrated in the Sistine Chapel since the day after he was elected pope. During that Mass, on April 20, Benedict outlined the priorities of his pontificate.