In the picture you posted, what's the outfit being worn? What is it with the particular way of folding of the hands, etc.?
It is a part of a picture of Pope Benedict XVI that had been on the home page (the link is to a cached version of the page) of the Vatican's Web site.
Here is a picture of Benedict XVI wearing the same liturgical vestments as in the partial picture that NYer has been using. He wears these vestments when participating in certain liturgical events or when meeting with Catholic dignitaries (government representatives or royalty as opposed to high-level people within the Church).
The way he is holding his hands is not significant. It was probably just what he was doing when the photographer snapped the photo.