The pope is to be known as “emeritus pope” after he retires and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican has announced.

The Pope’s butler and a fellow lay employee are to stand trial over documents stolen from the pontiff’s private apartment.

The Vatican has broadened the scope of the pope’s comments about condom use being a lesser evil than transmitting HIV onto a partner.

Pope Benedict XVI assured his followers in the Holy Land that peace is possible, as he ended his Middle East visit today by putting aside the contentious issues he has confronted and coming as a pilgrim to the site of Jesus’ crucifixion.