Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Easter Sunday Mass in rain-drenched St Peter’s Square and rejoiced over conversions to Christianity, a day after he baptised a prominent Muslim commentator.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Easter Sunday Mass as thousands of pilgrims and tourists jammed St Peter’s Square at the Vatican to join in the service and later receive his blessing.

ALTHOUGH I must have written about 250,000 words since starting this column over four years ago, I’ve never had occasion to use the Irish word “lúdramán”. Perhaps I shouldn’t use it now either in this, my last column.

ALTHOUGH I must have written about 250,000 words since starting this column over four years ago, I’ve never had occasion to use the Irish word “lúdramán”.

ARCHBISHOP OF Armagh, Dr Sean Brady, and his Church of Ireland counterpart, Archbishop Robin Eames, have launched investigations into an Easter Sunday Mass in Co Louth where a Church of Ireland minister concelebrated with priests in a Catholic Church.

INVESTIGATORS from the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman’s office last night named the man shot dead by police at a road block while driving a stolen car.

Investigators from the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman’s office tonight named the man shot dead by police at a road block .

Pope John Paul II’s condition remains unchanged and “very grave”, and he is showing the first signs of losing consciousness, the Vatican said today.

Pope John Paul II braved a rainy night chill to lead prayers at the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum, holding in his trembling hands a cross passed to him by a young woman from Madrid, in a sign of solidarity with the city after the March 11 bombings.

The Pope began Easter Sunday Mass today with a call to the faithful to work tirelessly for peace.