Pope Benedict XVI marked the holiest night of the year for Christians by stressing that humanity is not a random product of evolution.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Easter Vigil as the Vatican newspaper attacked what it called a “vile defamation operation” against him over the clerical abuse scandal.

POPE BENEDICT XVI sees the priestly sex scandal as a “test for him and the Church,” his spokesman says, as the Pope and his bishops around Europe used Holy Week’s solemn call for penitence to pledge transparency in dealing with the abuse of children.

Pope Benedict XVI sees the clerical sex scandals as a "test for him and the church", his spokesman said today, as bishops around Europe used Holy Week's solemn call for penitence to pledge transparency in dealing with the abuse of children.

Pope Benedict XVI said today that reconciliation was the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and said the entire world needed to rediscover hope to end wars, poverty and financial turmoil.

THE Bishop of Ferns has compared the suffering of child abuse victims in the diocese to the crucifixion of Christ.

Pope John Paul II ushered in Easter today capping a gruelling spate of Holy Week ceremonies with a Mass on the steps of St Peter’s Square before thousands of people.

The Catholic primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady, has said in his Easter message that Easter Sunday is the celebration of light over darkness.

Pope John Paul returned to strictly Biblical themes today, a day after an impassioned Easter call for peace in Iraq and an end to bloodshed around the world.

It has emerged that Dr Brendan Comiskey will not attend the Easter Vigil at St Aidan's Cathedral in Enniscorthy this evening.