A FEW years ago, on Dec 23, I got a morning call from RTÉ.

Poland’s first transgender MP has lost out in a bid to become a deputy speaker in parliament after other parliamentarians voted to keep the incumbent in place.

THE rest of the world knew him as John Paul II.

Pope Benedict XVI marks two milestones this week, and while his health appears stable, signs of frailty have again prompted speculation over whether he will be the first pontiff in seven centuries to resign.

Pope Benedict XVI called for a fight against the “evil” of drug gangs in violence-plagued Mexico and “new models” in communist Cuba on his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America.

The Irish Bishops Conference in 1996 lay out the procedures for handling allegations and suspicions of clerical child sex abuse in a document entitled “Child Sexual Abuse: Framework for a Church Response.”

Former Bishop John Magee has apologised for failing the victims of abusive priests under his authority.

JUST a quick note to voice my complete exasperation at the media coverage of the death of Brian Lenihan.

TRAVELLING on a fleet of planes, trains and cars, more than 50,000 Poles are expected to flock to the Vatican for the beatification of “their” saint-to-be, Polish-born Pope John Paul II.

NORMALLY anyone using the National Archives is looking for specific information, but when the State Papers are released to journalists each year, it is a different matter. Most do not know what they are looking for; they just plough through the files looking for anything of likely interest.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen and his party certainly did not distinguish themselves with the cabinet reshuffle during the week, but the contortions of Leo Varadkar helped to take some of the spotlight off the Government.

Poles planned vigils and concerts today to mark the second anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II.

Pope Benedict XVI today called on Christians and Jews to respect each other and work together for world peace.

Thousands pressed into a Warsaw square today for a Mass by Pope Benedict XVI at the spot where his predecessor, John Paul II, inspired Poland’s Solidarity movement against communist rule in 1979.

Catholic scholars gathered in Rome today to explore whether the soon-to-be-released film version of The Da Vinci Code will help spread hostile sentiment against the church or provide an opportunity to draw people closer to religion.

Pope Benedict XVI praised the the Second World War-era Pope, Pius XII, as a great pontiff but stopped short of endorsing his case for beatification, according to a transcript released today by the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI recalled the “fright” he felt at being elected pope in an end-of-the-year speech to cardinals today, saying he never imagined he would be chosen and only agreed to it because he had great faith in God.

POPE Benedict XVI opened a three-week meeting of over 250 Roman Catholic bishops at the Vatican, telling the synod it was “hypocritical” to exclude religion from public life.

POPE Benedict XVI yesterday criticised an “explosion” in religious consumerism and those profiting from it.

After years of planning, countless hours of travel and more than 11 hours waiting crushed in a crowd, thousands of young pilgrims got their reward - seeing the Pope.

POPE Benedict XVI arrived yesterday for the World Youth Day in Cologne to cheers from youthful pilgrims on his first foreign trip as Pope.

German-born Pope Benedict XVI took to the broad Rhine river to preach to his flock from the bow of a cruise ship on his homecoming trip to his native land - his first foreign trip as Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in his native Germany today for his first foreign trip as Pope, a journey that will emphasise outreach to Jews and Muslims and evangelising a Europe that has drifted from its Christian heritage.

POPE Benedict XVI will receive Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in private audience next Thursday, the Government disclosed yesterday.

POPE BENEDICT XVI held the first general audience of his pontificate yesterday, pledging to work for reconciliation and peace.

POPE BENEDICT XVI met leaders of the Muslim community, welcoming progress in Christian-Muslim dialogue and saying the Catholic Church wanted to continue “building bridges of friendship” with all other religions.

After extending a hand to other Christians, Jews and “nonbelievers,” Pope Benedict XVI made a meeting with religious leaders his first public appointment today.

POPE Benedict XVI formally began his stewardship of the Roman Catholic Church yesterday, reaching out to Jews, other Christians and “non-believers alike”.

CATHOLICS were not encouraged to read the bible in this country, apparently because the hierarchy could not trust them to interpret it properly. It was symptomatic of a rather cavalier attitude towards education.

POPE Benedict XVI is likely to be even more strict than his predecessor, John Paul II, on questions regarding the use of condoms to prevent the spread of Aids, gay rights activists said.

THE crowds still gathered at the Vatican yesterday, trying to soak in the afterglow of Tuesday evening’s happenings.

WHATEVER happened to the sacred oath of secrecy?

A NEW era has begun. Yesterday the crowds had thinned around St Peter’s Square. The startling drama of the previous night had receded.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his first public Mass as the 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church today after one of the shortest conclaves in a century, which sent an unmistakable signal that the church – buffeted by 21st-century problems – is intent on sticking to tradition.

Two American cardinals with extensive Vatican experience insisted new Pope Benedict XVI was not the cold disciplinarian many believed him to be.

POPE Benedict XVI’s leadership will be “crucial” amid the complexities of the modern world, says President Mary McAleese.

A TRADITIONAL German tuba band blared and free beer were on tap last night in the main square in the southern German town where Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, was born.

THE Primate of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh Seán Brady, has described Pope Benedict XVI as a man of great ability coupled with an uncluttered vision.

Cardinals enjoyed the few last hours today to confer with aides or pray with faithful before they were required to check-in at a top-security hotel in Vatican City, where they will be sequestered in secret sessions in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope.

THE first message a new Pope sends to the world is encoded in the name he chooses.

THE Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is to be applauded for standing his ground and refusing to call a day of mourning for John Paul II.

CARDINALS meeting in Rome to discuss the issues facing the Catholic church ahead of next week's conclave to elect a Pope have signed a petition to accelerate the beatification of John Paul II, a report said yesterday.

WHILE watching the news on RTÉ last Friday night I was struck by the number of ordinary people - young, middle-aged and old - who attended the Pope’s funeral.

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.