The revolutionary Catholic pope has called 17th-century missionary Joseph Vaz a model of reconciliation after the country’s recent civil war.

Pope Benedict published the last part of his trilogy on the life of Jesus which reaffirms the the virgin birth as an "unequivocal" truth of faith.

A Vatican court has convicted a computer programmer of helping the Pope’s butler leak confidential papers in a scandal that embarrassed the Vatican.

The case against Paolo Gabriele, in which he is accused of stealing and leaking documents alleging corruption in the Vatican, has been adjourned.

Pope Benedict, leading Catholics into Easter, says technological progress, in the absence of awareness of God, poses a threat to the world.

The officer ordering the captain of a capsized Italian cruise ship to go back aboard has become an instant hero, credited with saving national honour.

Pope Benedict has ushered in Christmas, urging people to see through the commercialism of the season and rediscover the significance of the day.

Anti-greed protesters rallied globally on Saturday, denouncing bankers and politicians over the international economic crisis.

Demonstrators worldwide have shouted their rage against bankers and politicians they accuse of ruining economies and condemning millions to hardship.

For lovers of Italian art, the Santa Croce Basilica is as close as you can come to ascending a stairway to heaven and looking angels in the eye.

God’s mind was behind scientific theories such as the Big Bang, and Christians should reject the idea that the universe came into being by accident.

Pope Benedict prayed for peace on Friday as he led the world’s Roman Catholics into Christmas at a mass marked by heightened security.

Pope Benedict this week makes a trip to Britain and his welcome in one of Europe’s most secular nations will range from polite to indifferent.

Pope Benedict begged forgiveness from God and victims of child sexual abuse by priests on Friday.

Attacks on the Catholic Church over a sexual abuse scandal are comparable to "collective violence" against Jews, the pontiff’s personal preacher said.

As the scandal has convulsed the Church in the United States and Europe, the Vatican has gone on the offensive, attacking the media.

Pope Benedict apologised on Saturday to victims of child sex abuse by clergy in Ireland and ordered an inquiry there to try to stem a scandal.