Pope Francis urged Asia’s Catholic youth to renounce the materialism that afflicts much of their society today and reject “inhuman” economic systems that disenfranchise the poor.

Pope Francis has marked Palm Sunday in a packed St Peter’s Square, ignoring his prepared homily and speaking entirely off the cuff.

Pope Francis announced today that he would travel to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan on May 24-26, his first visit to the Holy Land.

Pope Francis has said he will not judge priests for their sexual orientation. “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” he asked.

Pope Francis’s historic trip to his home continent ended yesterday after a marathon week-long visit to Brazil that drew millions of people on to the sands of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana beach and appeared to reinvigorate the clergy and faithful alike in the world’s largest Catholic country.

Pope Francis wrapped up a historic trip to his home continent yesterday with a Mass on Copacabana beach that drew a reported 3 million people, who cheered the first Latin American pope in a remarkable response to his message that the Catholic Church must shake itself up and get out into the streets to find the faithful.

Pope Francis has criticised the Brazilian church’s failure to keep its flock from straying to evangelical churches, challenging the region’s bishops to be closer to their people to understand their problems and offer them credible solutions.

Pope Francis has presided over one of the most solemn rites of the Catholic Church, a procession re-enacting Christ’s crucifixion that received a Broadway-like treatment befitting its improbable location, Rio’s hedonistic Copacabana beach.

Pope Francis’s relentless pace on his tour of Brazil is wearing out his aides.

There are growing security fears for Pope Francis after a pipe bomb was detonated at a site he is due to visit today and frenzied crowds of Roman Catholics mobbed the car carrying him after it took a wrong turn down a street in Rio’s centre.

Pope Francis has returned to the warm embrace of Latin America, landing in Brazil to begin his first international trip as pontiff.

Pope Francis is reaching out over social media to young followers gearing up for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.

In an announcement that has surprised many, it turns out you can now get into heaven faster by following the Pope on Twitter.

Brazil awoke to city centres still smouldering after a night that shocked the nation: One million anti- government protesters took to the streets in scores of cities, with clusters battling police and destroying swaths of storefronts and buildings.

A late-night outing turned into a six-hour nightmare after an American was gang-raped aboard a public transit van in an incident that has shocked the city as it gears up to host 2014’s World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

An American woman was gang-raped and beaten while her French boyfriend was shackled, hit with a crowbar, and forced to watch the attacks in Rio de Janeiro.

Pope Francis celebrated his first Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square today, encouraging people to be humble and young at heart, as tens of thousands joyfully waved olive branches and palm fronds.

The Catholic Church’s surprising new leader from “the end of the earth” will celebrate his first Mass as pope today.

While Catholics are sad at the resignation of Pope Benedict, we are delighted that he left with such dignity.

A river of ink has been used to tell us about the abuse scandals, Vatican leaks, and failings of Pope Benedict XVI in recent times.

POPE Benedict yesterday urged 1.5 million young Catholics in an aerodrome near Madrid to spread the gospel to others seeking better values than modern society offers.

Pope Benedict XVI urged more than a million young people to become missionaries for the faith today, giving them words of encouragement as he concluded the church's youth festival.

An estimated million young pilgrims braved searing heat followed by blustery rains in Madrid today to take part in a prayer vigil with Pope Benedict XVI, massing at a dusty airport field as the Catholic Church's youth festival neared its climax.

AT 103 years old, Sister Teresita was set for the experience of a lifetime.

POPE Benedict XVI warned of an “eclipse of God” as he spoke to nuns outside a 16th century Spanish monastery during protest-hit Catholic youth celebrations.

AT 103 years old, Sister Teresita is set for the experience of a lifetime.

POPE Benedict denounced economic structures that put profits ahead of people yesterday at the start of a trip to recession-hit Spain where the costs of the pontiff’s visit have sparked violent protests.

Eight demonstrators have been arrested and 11 people injured in clashes between riot police and protesters in Madrid opposed to a visit by the Pope.

The Pope is due to arrive in Madrid today for a four-day visit to celebrate World Youth Day, with thousands of people preparing to protest against his visit.

A YOUNG chemistry student working as a volunteer on preparations for a visit by the Pope to Spain has been arrested on suspicion of planning a gas attack against protesters opposed to the pontiff’s stay.

THE cost of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Spain next week is coming under fire from lay groups — and even some priests — at a time when people are suffering from painful budget cuts.

ORGANISERS say they expect as many as 1.5 million people to attend the Catholic church’s World Youth Day event to be led by Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid.

Pope Benedict XVI today privately met Australians who were sexually abused as children by priests today, ending a pilgrimage to the country with a gesture of contrition over a scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI says the next Roman Catholic youth festival will be held in Spain in 2011 and has indicated that he hopes to attend.

The One-in-Four organisation is calling on Catholic bishops and priests to show true remorse for clerical child sex abuse.

A Dublin student will read at a Vigil Mass attended by Pope Benedict XVI in Australia tonight.

Pope Benedict XVI apologised today to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic clergy in Australia, describing their acts as evil and a grave betrayal of trust that has disgraced the church.

Pope Benedict, who generally wears a white skull cap known as a “zuchetto,” was given a Mickey Mouse cap with ears yesterday.

Pope Benedict XVI stressed today that religion is a “fundamental right” of all people that transcends borders and can solve conflicts in a world threatened by sinister and indiscriminate violence.

Pope Benedict XVI lauded the Australian government today for apologising to the country’s indigenous Aborigines for past injustices, saying it offered hope to all the world’s disadvantaged peoples.

Young Roman Catholic pilgrims attended religious classes throughout Sydney today, a quiet recovery after a Mass and pop concert thronged by more than 100,000 people the night before.

A massive Roman Catholic youth celebration has begun in Sydney with an Australian G’Day and a welcoming text message from Pope Benedict XVI to the tens of thousands of pilgrims who have travelled from around the world.

Pope Benedict XVI has raised expectations that he would apologise directly to victims of past clergy sexual abuse.

More than 800 young Irish Catholics are heading to Sydney for World Youth Day.