A fake bishop has been kicked out of a meeting of cardinals in the Vatican.

Benedict XVI has become the first pope in 600 years to resign, ending an eight-year pontificate shaped by struggles to move the church past sex abuse scandals and to reawaken Christianity in an indifferent world.

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.

Pope Benedict XVI has recalled "joy and light" during his papacy, but also difficult times, during his final audience at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican today.

Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying “Thank you!” jammed St Peter’s Square today to bid farewell to Pope Benedict XVI at his final general audience – the appointment he kept each week to teach the world about the Catholic faith.

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

The news that Frank Lampard has signed a contract to write children’s books seemed the perfect hook for a quip-happy column until I learned that Frankie had beaten us all to pun, as it were, by naming the second in his series — about a young boy with a magic football — Frankie Versus The Rowdy Romans.

The trial this week of a Vatican computer analyst over his alleged role in an embarrassing scandal of stolen confidential papal documents is offering a chance for an insider glimpse at the Holy See’s security workings.

Pope Benedict XVI issued pleas for peace to reign across the world during his traditional Christmas address today, a call marred by Muslim extremists who attacked Christian churches in Nigeria, including bombing a Catholic Mass.

FOLLOWING the withdrawal of the Vatican ambassador in the wake of Enda Kenny’s challenging and vitriolic words, I personally feel we should seize all Vatican properties for the state and pay pensions to all those who were used by the church as slaves over many years.

FROM the Hand of Gaul to the Hand Of God – Giovanni Trapattoni has said that he would one day like to manage the Vatican City football team.

The Pope delivered his traditional Christmas Day blessing today, looking tired and unsteady but otherwise fine, hours after he was knocked down by a woman who jumped over a barrier in St Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Benedict XVI, in his first Easter message as pontiff, today urged the use of diplomacy to defuse nuclear crises in a clear reference to worries over Iran, and prayed that Palestinians would have their own state alongside that of Israel.

Pope Benedict XVI, celebrating his first Easter as pontiff, prayed today for peace to prevail over relentless violence in Iraq, for a negotiated, ”honourable,” solution to the Iran nuclear crisis and for dialogue to overcome obstacles between Israel and the Palestinians.

Signs of hope in Iraq, the Holy Land and Lebanon need to be confirmed by fair and wise actions on the ground, Pope Benedict XVI said today during a Christmas Day message delivered from the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Benedict XVI pledged today to work to end the 1,000-year-old rift with the Orthodox church, sending a message of healing from a city with close ties to the Orthodox.

Tucked behind ancient walls and iron gates, Vatican City is protected by Swiss Guards armed with sabres, a small but efficient secret service packing handguns and a special Italian police corps.

MORE than 6,000 extra police, including snipers, bomb disposal experts and motorcycle escorts, have been deployed to protect the crowds of faithful and world leaders converging on the Vatican to mourn Pope John Paul II.

Mourners streamed past the crimson-robed body of John Paul II for a second day today, with thousands waiting in line to say a personal farewell to the pontiff, as the cardinals who will elect his successor prepared for another round of preparatory meetings to arrange for the conclave.

Nearly 3,000 security officers and a mounted police squad will be patrolling the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, during this weekend’s visit by Pope John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II made his first foreign trip in nine months today, calling it his “duty” to keep travelling and telling young people he had no intention of giving up.