POPE Benedict XVI confirmed Cardinal Angelo Sodano in the Vatican's No 2 post yesterday and kept all other top officials, avoiding any immediate shake-up in the late John Paul II's administration.

THE worldwide outpouring of affection for Pope John Paul II may have convinced the cardinals choosing his successor that today’s Roman Catholic Church has no room for a so-called “transitional” leader.

Catholics’ thoughts turned to who might replace their beloved pope as the cardinals, silenced by an unprecedented pledge to not reveal their thinking, prepared to meet again today to plan next week’s conclave to select a new leader to replace John Paul II.

Days after some cardinals gave dire descriptions of his health, Pope John Paul II led a long and lively ceremony today to give the Catholic Church new saints.

THE Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, began a visit to Rome yesterday in which he was due to meet Pope John Paul II for the first time.

A leading European cardinal said today that Pope John Paul was nearing “the last days and months of his life,” the latest prelate to express alarm over the 83-year-old pontiff’s health.