Pope Benedict's new book hits bookstores

In the second volume of his book Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict has personally exonerated Jews of allegations they were responsible for Jesus Christs death, repudiating the concept of collective guilt that has haunted Christian-Jewish relations for centuries. Jewish groups have applauded the move.The books publisher said he expected it to sell well. Obviously as a publisher, I hope the book sells well, but as a publisher for a book written by Pope Benedict I am certain it will sell well, said the books publisher Father Costa.The Roman Catholic Church officially repudiated the idea of collective Jewish guilt for Christs death in a major document by the Second Vatican Council in 1965. But the latest book is believed to be the first time a pope has made such a detailed dissection and close comparison of various New Testament accounts of Jesuss condemnation to death by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.There appeared to be a lot of interest in the morning as people queued to buy a copy. This is a very important book, and not just for Catholics, said Bavarian tourist Annalisa Lutz. Pope Benedict has said God is giving him the energy to write his books and he plans to write more.