SHANGHAI — China's auto sales slowed further in September as a boom fueled by tax breaks and subsidies faded.

Official figures for the month, delayed by a weeklong national holiday, showed total sales rising 17 percent from a year earlier to 1.56 million vehicles, down from 18 percent in August, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported Tuesday.

Sales rose 16 percent in July and 21 percent in June, but have generally slowed since spring.

Passenger car sales rose 19.3 percent to 1.2 million vehicles, the group said on its website.

"Growth in China's auto market seems to be back to normal after the boom," said Wei Chenggang, an analyst at Shanghai Securities, in Shanghai, forecasting further slowing in months to come. "This might be bad for automakers in the short term, but is definitely better for the sustainable development of the industry," he said.

China became the world's largest auto market in 2009 when sales surged 45 percent to 13.6 million vehicles.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI outlined his biggest initiative yet to try to revive Christianity in an increasingly secular world by creating a Vatican office for re-evangelizing Europe and other regions with Christian roots.In an official decree issued Tuesday, Benedict said the new office would work with bishops to promote church doctrine, use modern communications to get the church's message out and mobilize missionary-type activities using members of religious orders and new religious movements.Benedict has made reviving Europe's Christian roots a priority of his papacy. The Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization also will work in South America, where evangelical movements are making inroads in traditionally Catholic countries.

PARIS — French commuters fought their way onto packed subways and buses today as an open-ended strike against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to raise the retirement age to 62 entered its second day.On Tuesday, about 1.2 million people marched in nationwide protests against the pension reform, according to police — the largest turnout in four nationwide demonstrations over the last five weeks. Unions put the figure much higher, at 3.5 million.The strong turnout could be a signal of rising momentum for the movement taking on Sarkozy's governing conservatives over their proposal to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.Sarkozy insists the government will stick to the reform, saying it is the only way to save the money-losing pension system — a reform that comes amid efforts across Europe to reduce sky-high debts that have threatened the euro and Europe's financial reputation.