A Vatican spokesman announced that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama called Benedict XVI on Nov. 11th to thank him for the latter's congratulatory telegram.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, said that Obama called the Pope on Tuesday. The call responded to a telegram the Holy Father sent to Obama after he won the presidential election last week.

In the papal telegram, the Bishop of Rome promised Obama his prayers so that God assists him in his "weighty responsibilities at the service of the nation and the international community." And it expressed his wish that the Lord's blessings support Obama and the American people, "together with all men and women of good will, [in efforts] to build a world of peace, solidarity and justice."