Pope Benedict shocked the world by saying he no longer had the mental and physical strength to cope with his ministry, in an announcement that left his aides “incredulous” and will make him the first pontiff to step down since the Middle Ages.

Pope Benedict's brother Georg Ratzinger said the pontiff had been advised by his doctor not to take any more transatlantic trips and had been considering stepping down for months.

He’s been nicknamed the flying piano man.

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.

A diocese in the Pope's native Bavaria said today four priests and two nuns are to be investigated in connection with sexual abuse allegations.

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.

THE head of Germany’s Catholic Church apologised to victims of child abuse by priests and said after meeting Pope Benedict yesterday the pontiff had encouraged him to press ahead with tough new measures.

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.

The Catholic Church today said its child abuse scandals were only part of a wider problem.

THE Pope’s brother has said in an interview that he would be willing to testify in the sex scandal rocking the Catholic Church in Germany, even though he knows nothing about the alleged abuse of a former choir boy.

AN ever-widening sexual abuse scandal involving Germany’s Roman Catholic Church spilled into the heart of Pope Benedict XVI’s homeland yesterday when a former member of a boy’s choir led for 30 years by his brother claimed he was a victim.

Pope Benedict XVI today made an emotional visit to the cathedral where he became a priest, ending a six-day trip during which he warned his secular, socially liberal homeland not to let faith in reason and technology make it forget God.

POPE Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in front of 70,000 people yesterday as part of a sentimental return to his homeland.

Pope Benedict XVI said today he felt like he was surrounded by old friends now that his books have arrived at his newly renovated Vatican apartment.

Pope Benedict XVI officially launched his stewardship of the Roman Catholic Church today, presiding over a installation Mass that drew tens of thousands of pilgrims and dignitaries to St Peter’s Square.

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