POPE BENEDICT reaffirmed the Roman Catholic rule of priestly celibacy yesterday, rejecting suggestions that the way to confront the shortage of priests was to allow them to marry.

CATHOLIC women’s rights activists reacted with dismay to the election of conservative German Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI.

WHETHER they want women priests, more say for the laity or a return to the Latin Mass, Roman Catholic interest groups are sending their varied messages to Rome - attempting to exert some small influence on the selection of the next pope or at least get more attention for their causes.