Pope meets Hawking

Oct. 31 - Pope Benedict received a delegation of top scientists among whom was British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.

Hawking, author of the popular science bestseller "A Brief History of Time", was in Rome to take part in a science conference on "scientific approaches to the evolution of life and the universe" that will be held behind close doors at the Pontificial Academy of Science in the next few days.

Hawking, who has been paralysed for more than 40 years because of motor neurone disease, is well-known for his theories about black holes, the big bang, and the nature of time.

Meeting the scientists ahead of the conference, Pope Benedict told them that, according to the church, there is no contradiction between religion and science but that the universe is 'a book written by God', a Vatican press office statement said.