Cardinals electing the new pope will be looking for a charismatic but tenacious man capable of reuniting a fractious Church, stamping down on scandals, and reigniting faith among the young.

Cardinal Seán Brady is the latest in a line of cardinals across the world facing criticism from clerical sex abuse victims for being allowed to vote for the next Pope.

FOLLOWING the pope’s stunning announcement, the time for the Catholic Church to elect its first non-European leader is approaching — and it could be a Latin American.

Pope Benedict yesterday told 22 new cardinals from around the world to base their actions and decisions on the bedrock of their faith as they exercise greater responsibility and power.

The Obama administration last night signalled it is willing to compromise over birth control measures following a furious reaction from Catholic leaders that could damage BarackObama’s re-election bid.

A 67-year-old second generation Irish woman, with a criminal record for theft has been charged with siphoning $1m in donations while working in a finance office of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, Church officials have confirmed.

VATICAN chiefs have ordered trainee priests at Ireland’s national seminary at Maynooth to be physically separated from the university’s 8,000 lay students.

ÁRAS an Uachtaráin last night refused to confirm or deny claims President Mary McAleese turned down the role of grand marshal of the New York St Patrick’s Day parade because the event excludes gay people.

THE US-based cardinal appointed to investigate paedophile priests in the Dublin archdiocese “silences” any controversy over child abuse in the dioceses he joins, it has been claimed.

SEVERAL of the Catholic Church’s top enforcers against paedophile priests have been appointed by the Pope to carry out an inquiry into the Church’s handling of the problem here.

President Mary McAleese will attend a special famine commemoration in New York this week as part of a four-day visit to the city.

MY American history taught me that during various Irish immigrations there were signs saying “no Irish need apply”. Over the years, of course, these prejudices changed. My archbishop, Timothy Dolan, has just left Milwaukee to be installed as New York’s newest archbishop. John F Kennedy, of course, was elected to the highest position in my country. The sky is the limit.