Caroline O’Doherty reports (Irish Examiner, Nov 4) on the possibility of at least one Irish woman being named by Pope Francis at the Consistory in Rome.

The Catholic Church's first female cardinal may be Irish.

I SEE Brian O’Driscoll has been in the news again recently. In case you missed it, O’Driscoll has been speaking about his disappointment with being dropped for the third and final Lions game this summer against Australia, and he said he was a touch resentful towards coach Warren Gatland for not giving him a game in that series-decider.

Highlights include Jeremy Irons back for the third series of The Borgias and The Review Show’s interview with author Iain Banks, who died recently.

Pope Francis paid a heartfelt tribute to his predecessor Benedict XVI, saying his faith and teaching had “enriched and invigorated” the Catholic Church and would remain its spiritual patrimony forever.

Pope Francis has paid a heartfelt tribute to his predecessor Benedict XVI, saying his faith and teaching had “enriched and invigorated” the Catholic Church.

Roger Mahony, a cardinal-archbishop, was relieved of public duties for mishandling child sex abuse cases, writes Paul Begala, so why was he allowed to vote for a new pope?

Cardinals elected a new pope to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics tonight, overcoming deep divisions to select the 266th pope in a remarkably fast conclave.

Black smoke has risen above the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, confirming there has been no agreement as yet (ie no two thirds majority) on the next Pope.

Cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel today to elect the next pope, with the Catholic Church facing more upheaval and uncertainty than it has seen in decades.

Catholic cardinals have gathered at the Vatican for their final day of talks before the conclave to elect the next pope.

Cardinals have set Tuesday as the start date for the conclave to elect the next pope.

The Catholic Church awoke Friday with no leader following the resignation of Benedict XVI, who pledged obedience to his successor.

Pope Benedict XVI left the Catholic Church in unprecedented limbo today as he became the first pope in 600 years to resign, capping a tearful day of farewells that included an extraordinary pledge of obedience to his successor.

Benedict XVI has left the Vatican for the last time as pope, flying by helicopter to the Vatican’s vacation retreat hours before becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years.

Pope Benedict XVI has promised his “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor in his final words to his cardinals, a poignant farewell before he becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign.

The pope is to be known as “emeritus pope” after he retires and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican has announced.

He was supposed to be ‘God’s Rottweiler.’ AN Wilson looks at the paradox of Benedict XVI, a man who seemed more complicated than many of us wanted to imagine when he appeared.

With a few words in Latin, Pope Benedict XVI did what no pope has done in more than half a millennium, stunning the world by announcing his resignation and leaving the already troubled Catholic Church to replace the leader of its one billion followers by Easter.

The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI today has set in motion a complex sequence of events to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict is to resign his office at the end of this month after declaring he was too old to carry on as head of the Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a very Bavarian birthday yesterday, marking his 85 years with his brother, German bishops and a band from his native land.

The Pope is having a very Bavarian birthday, celebrating his 85th milestone at the Vatican with his brother and bishops from his native land.

Pope Benedict XVI is bringing 22 new Catholic churchmen into the elite club of cardinals who will elect his successor.

CARDINAL Bernard Law, who resigned in disgrace as Boston’s archbishop in 2002 after the priest sex abuse scandal exploded in the United States, has retired from his subsequent job as head of a major Roman basilica.

ARCHBISHOP Tomás Ó Fiaich visited the United States in May 1979. He was invited to stay at the Irish embassy in Washington by Ambassador Seán Donlon, but he initially declined the invitation.

The pope named 24 new cardinals today.

THE anthropologist Robin Dunbar visited Trinity College’s Science Gallery last week.

THE recent comment by Cardinal Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, who described the criticism of the Holy See relating to clerical child sex abuse as “truly incomprehensible” is absurd, unworthy and mischievous.

Pope Benedict XVI told cardinals today that he does not feel alone while at the helm of a “wounded and sinner” church, the Vatican newspaper reported.

The Vatican has heatedly defended Pope Benedict XVI, claiming accusations that he helped cover up the actions of paedophile priests are part of an anti-Catholic “hate” campaign targeting the Pope for his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage.

POPE BENEDICT XVI kept mum on paedophile priest scandals rocking the Roman Catholic Church during his Easter Mass yesterday, as Christians across the world marked the resurrection of Christ.

A senior cardinal defended Pope Benedict XVI from “petty gossip” today as the pontiff maintained his silence on mounting sex abuse cover-up accusations during his Easter message.

THE visit of Pope John Paul II was undoubtedly the most popular event that ever took place in this country. It was witnessed in person by more people than the visit of President John F Kennedy in 1963 or President Bill Clinton in 1995. Yet strangely, the Vatican and the Catholic hierarchy treated Taoiseach Jack Lynch and his government with a degree of disdain.

AN amnesty for prisoners to mark the visit of Pope John Paul II was put back over fears of a burglary blitz on the country’s empty homes, newly released State Papers reveal today.

The Pope praised the “human and supernatural” qualities of John Paul II during a mass marking the third anniversary of the Polish pontiff’s death today.

Archbishop Sean Brady has been formally made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has paid tribute to Archbishop Sean Brady just hours ahead of his appointment to the College of Cardinals in Rome today.

The announcement that Archbishop Seán Brady of Armagh is to be created cardinal at the next Vatican consistory on November 24 is warmly welcomed.

POPE Benedict installed his first group of new cardinals on Friday, elevating 15 men from Hong Kong to Boston to join the exclusive Catholic group that advises him and will one day elect his successor.

Fifteen prelates from around the world joined the elite College of Cardinals in the Vatican today, becoming the newest advisers to the Pope who one day will be called on to elect his successor.

POPE BENEDICT XVI recalled the “fright” he felt at being elected Pope, telling cardinals during his year-end speech yesterday that he never imagined he would be chosen and only agreed to it because he had great faith in God.

Pope Benedict XVI recalled the “fright” he felt at being elected pope in an end-of-the-year speech to cardinals today, saying he never imagined he would be chosen and only agreed to it because he had great faith in God.

MORE THAN half a million people are expected to gather in St Peter’s Square tomorrow for the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI.