The Vatican today denounced what it called aggressive attempts to drag Pope Benedict XVI into the spreading scandals of paedophile priests in his German homeland, and contended he had long confronted abuse cases with courage.

CATHOLIC authorities in Germany announced two major abuse investigations – one into the renowned choir once led by Pope Benedict XVI’s brother and another into what everyone, including the Pope, knew about the sexual and physical abuse of students.

THE Pope’s brother admitted yesterday that he slapped pupils across the face after he took over a renowned German boys’ choir in the 1960s and was aware of allegations of physical abuse at an elementary school linked to the choir, but did nothing about it.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger alienated some Roman Catholics in Germany with his zeal enforcing church orthodoxy. But in the conservative Alpine foothills of Bavaria where he grew up, he remains a favourite son who many think will make a good pope.