Pope Francis has approved an unprecedented Vatican department to judge bishops accused of covering up or not preventing sexual abuse of minors, in an attempt to meet a key demand by victims’ groups.

The Vatican’s economy minister has said hundreds of millions of euros were found “tucked away” in accounts of various Holy See departments without having appeared in the city-state’s balance sheets.

Pope Francis has announced the first major overhaul of the Vatican’s outdated and scandal-plagued bureaucracy in a quarter-century, creating an economics secretariat to control all economic, administrative, personnel, and procurement functions of the Holy See.

Pope Francis has created a new Finance Ministry to oversee the Vatican's economic affairs.

Irish Catholics seeking reform of their church are among 100 groups around the world who have jointly written to Pope Francis asking him to make major changes to the way the faith is governed.

A top ranking Cardinal in Australia has said fear of scandal prompted the cover-up of child sex abuse allegations within the Catholic Church.

The Passion of the Christ director Mel Gibson is considering recreating Jesus Christ's crucifixion in the streets of Sydney, Australia - if the city wins its bid to host a major Catholic gathering.

The head of Australia's Catholic Church said today that he would temporarily step aside from his job while he is investigated over child sex abuse allegations.