Pope Francis has travelled to Castel Gandolfo to have lunch with his predecessor Benedict XVI in an historic meeting.

Crowds are beginning to gather in the central square of Castel Gandolfo in Italy to catch a glimpse of history: Two Popes meeting for lunch and presumably discussing the future of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis today offered intimate insights into the moments after his papal election, telling an audience with the press that he was immediately inspired to take the name of St Francis of Assisi because of his work for peace and the poor.

Pope Francis will visit his predecessor at the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo next Saturday.

Pope Francis paid a heartfelt tribute to his predecessor Benedict XVI, saying his faith and teaching had “enriched and invigorated” the Catholic Church and would remain its spiritual patrimony forever.

Pope Francis has paid a heartfelt tribute to his predecessor Benedict XVI, saying his faith and teaching had “enriched and invigorated” the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has opened his pontificate this morning with a visit to Rome’s main basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The Catholic Church’s surprising new leader from “the end of the earth” will celebrate his first Mass as pope today.

As the pope emeritus begins the ‘last leg of his pilgrimage on this earth’, Ella Ide meets with residents in the tiny town of Castel Gandolfo near Rome, where thousands gathered to hear Benedict’s last words as Pope

Pope Benedict XVI left the Catholic Church in unprecedented limbo today as he became the first pope in 600 years to resign, capping a tearful day of farewells that included an extraordinary pledge of obedience to his successor.

Benedict XVI has become the first pope in 600 years to resign, ending an eight-year pontificate shaped by struggles to move the church past sex abuse scandals and to reawaken Christianity in an indifferent world.

Benedict XVI has left the Vatican for the last time as pope, flying by helicopter to the Vatican’s vacation retreat hours before becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years.

Pope Benedict XVI has promised his “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor in his final words to his cardinals, a poignant farewell before he becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign.

Pope Benedict XVI has recalled "joy and light" during his papacy, but also difficult times, during his final audience at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican today.

Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying “Thank you!” jammed St Peter’s Square today to bid farewell to Pope Benedict XVI at his final general audience – the appointment he kept each week to teach the world about the Catholic faith.

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

Pope Benedict hit his head during his March 2012 trip to Mexico, the Vatican says, denying it had any “relevant” role in his resignation.

Pope Benedict XVI has returned to the Vatican after three months on holiday to find his former butler on trial in one of the most damaging scandals of his pontificate: the leaks of stolen papal correspondence detailing power struggles, defamation campaigns and allegations of corruption at the highest level of the Catholic Church.

IF Mary McAleese wanted to reach teenagers rendered miserable every day by knowing that they’re gay, she picked the wrong programme when she appeared on The Pat Kenny Show to talk about the topic.

There was a lot of moralising going on in Rome, especially from politicians over the past few days.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has met Pope Benedict for the first time since he attacked the Vatican's record on clerical child sex abuse in a Dáil speech last year.

The Catholic Church understands the need to deal fully with the scars of child abuse since his criticism of the Vatican, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said ahead of his meeting today with the Pope.

POPE Benedict XVI has urged the international community to “revive” their search for a peace plan for Libya, saying force was not the answer.

Pope Benedict XVI has called on people to renounce hatred in the face of the “deep sorrow” felt over the terror attacks in Norway.

A STUNNING 18th-century mansion gifted to the state by a billionaire businessman should be converted into a summer residence for the President, it has been proposed.

Pope Benedict XVI said today he was praying constantly for the Chilean miners trapped underground and urged them to remain calm as efforts continue to free them.

The Pope today greeted pilgrims and delivered a prayer from his retreat near Rome, but did not mention the sex abuse scandal plaguing the Catholic Church.

POPE Benedict XVI has said Nazi concentration camps were “extreme symbols of evil” and hell on earth.

Pope Benedict XVI said today that reconciliation was the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and said the entire world needed to rediscover hope to end wars, poverty and financial turmoil.

The Pope celebrated an open-air Mass for the sick at Lourdes today as he ended his visit to France.

The world’s top industrialised nations face pressing financial and environmental troubles at their annual summit tomorrow, confronted with demands they reinvigorate the stumbling world economy, push ahead languishing climate change talks, and make good on pledges to battle poverty and hunger.

Aliens could be out there, and believing that the universe may contain extraterrestrial life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican’s chief astronomer says.

Pope Benedict XVI today denounced what he called the world’s “profit mindset”.

Democratic societies have the right to defend themselves against terrorism but must respect laws and human rights in their struggle – or risk endangering the very freedoms they seek to protect, Pope Benedict XVI said today.

Northern Ireland should be an inspiration to those around the world seeking peace, Pope Benedict XVI said today.

In a rare, high-profile visit to the West, Sudan’s president today met with the pope and Italy’s premier, and offered to declare a cease-fire with Darfur rebels to coincide with the start of UN-backed peace talks next month.

Pope Benedict XVI called today for the release of Korean hostages held in Afghanistan.

Pope Benedict XVI assured Muslim diplomats today that the Catholic church holds esteem for Islam and called for “sincere and respectful” dialogue as he sought to defuse his recent remarks about Islam and violence.

Pope Benedict XVI today praised an Italian nun for pardoning her killers as she lay dying from an attack in Somalia that may have been linked to worldwide Muslim anger over his recent remarks about Islam and violence.

Pope Benedict XVI will meet representatives of Muslim countries on Monday, the Vatican said today.

Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the “victory of peace” in the Middle East, as his special envoy led the faithful in prayers in Lebanon, where a UN-brokered ceasefire appeared to be holding today.

Pope Benedict XVI today appealed for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East to end a crisis he described as “ever more tragic".

Pope Benedict XVI today marked the 500th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of the current St. Peter’s Basilica, saying he hoped it would awaken Catholics’ desire to be “living cornerstones” of the church’s growth.

Pope Benedict XVI ushered in Easter services with a dramatic, candlelit vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica during which he said Christ’s resurrection was ”the most crucial leap” in the history of mankind.