St. Peter's Basilica

Pope Benedict XVI marked Good Friday, the Christian world's most solemn day, with the Roman Catholic Church under a dark cloud battling paedophile priest scandals.

The paedophile priest scandals rocking the Roman Catholic Church cast a pall over pre-Easter celebrations Thursday as Pope Benedict XVI avoided direct references to the crisis.

Pope washes priests' feet in ceremony marking Holy Thursday. Pope Benedict XVI said Catholics are called to a "constant examination of conscience" but made no mention of the scandals rocking his church before he washed the feet of 12 priests in a ceremony marking Holy Thursday.

The paedophile priest scandals rocking the Roman Catholic Church cast a pall over pre-Easter celebrations Thursday as Pope Benedict XVI avoided direct references to the crisis.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, accused by victims' lawyers of being ultimately responsible for an alleged cover-up of sexual abuse of children by priests, cannot be called to testify at any trial because he has immunity as a head of state, a top Vatican legal official said on Thursday.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, accused by victims' lawyers of being ultimately responsible for an alleged cover-up of sexual abuse of children by priests, cannot be called to testify at any trial because he has immunity as a head of state, a top Vatican legal official said on Thursday.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Conservative Catholic university students rushed to Pope Benedict's defense on Wednesday, attacking journalists who have written about the sexual abuse of children by priests as "sowers of mistrust."

Pope Benedict XVI hailed the legacy of John Paul II five years after his death, while questions swirl over the late pontiff's record in combatting pedophile priests and whether a miracle needed for his sainthood really happened.

Benedict honors John Paul on 5th anniversary of death as doubts swirl around 'miracle' healing. Pope Benedict XVI hailed the legacy of John Paul II Monday five years after his death, while questions swirl over the late pontiff's record in combatting pedophile priests and whether a miracle needed for his sainthood really happened.

Pope Benedict XVI, under increasing fire for the Roman Catholic Church's handling of paedophile priests, urged Christians Sunday not to be intimidated by idle "chatter".

Pope Benedict XVI, under increasing fire for the Roman Catholic Church's handling of paedophile priests scandals, urged Christians Sunday to not be intimidated by idle "chatter".

Pope Benedict XVI, under fire as the Roman Catholic Church grapples with snowballing paedophilia scandals, used the popemobile for the first time on a Palm Sunday for his traditional outing in St Peter's Square.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican on Thursday angrily attacked the media over its reporting of sexual abuse of children by priests, saying there was an "ignoble attempt" to smear Pope Benedict "at any cost."

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican on Thursday angrily attacked the media over its reporting of sexual abuse of children by priests, saying there was an "ignoble attempt" to smear Pope Benedict "at any cost."

The Vatican hit back Thursday at new paedophilia revelations, defending Pope Benedict XVI against an allegation that he failed to act over a US priest accused of molesting up to 200 deaf children in the 1970s.

Pope Benedict XVI was preparing Saturday to issue a pastoral letter on the child abuse scandal in the Church in Ireland, amid growing anger about similar affairs in other countries.

Pope Benedict XVI was preparing Saturday to issue a pastoral letter on the child abuse scandal in the Church in Ireland, amid growing anger about similar affairs in other countries.

The pope should apologise to Irish sex abuse victims and admit the Catholic church abused its power and deliberately covered up the activities of paedophile priests, a leading victims' group said Friday.

The pope should apologise to Irish sex abuse victims and admit the Catholic church abused its power and deliberately covered up the activities of paedophile priests, a leading victims' group said Friday.

Pope Benedict XVI faced mounting pressure Wednesday over worldwide child sex abuse allegations, as he vowed to write to Irish Catholics this week offering "healing and renewal" over the scandal.