Pope John Paul II has handed over the keys...

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II has handed over the keys of a Vatican-owned building in Rome's western suburbs to Mother Teresa of Calcutta for use as a home for abandoned children.

The pope gave the facility to the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize winner Thursday, in response to her plea on behalf of unwanted children to the Fifth World Synod of Bishops.

Mother Teresa's order of nuns, the Missionary Sisters of Charity, will put the building in order with the help of private Roman contributions for an initial group of 50 homeless children.