VATICAN, July 25 (RIA Novosti, Nikita Barashev) - Pope Benedict XVI has almost finished his book, Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said.

Pope Benedict began writing the book three years ago. He is currently on a working vacation and has been working on the book every day. The spokesman said the spirituality of Saint Benedict would not be the book's only theme.

The pope has also been spending a lot of time preparing his speech for the XX World Youth Day 2005. This event will take place in Cologne in August. Like his predecessor John Paul II, Pope Benedict believes this meeting with young people is very important.