A petition coordinated by peace organisations, theologians and other concerned individuals is calling on the Pope to visit Gaza and to take a stand for justice and nonviolence in the embattled province.

The Vatican has amended comments made about condoms by the Pope, but the change in tone is unlikely to stem critics who say his anti-contraception stance is damaging the fight against HIV-AIDS.

The pope has acknowledged "mistakes" in the way the Vatican lifted the excommunication of four bishops from a breakaway group, including a prelate who had denied that Jews died in Nazi gas chambers.

Several hours after British PM Gordon Brown extended an invitation to the Pope to visit the UK, the Vatican issued a statement saying he had no current plans to do so.

In an audience at the Vatican today, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has invited Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, to Britain and has promised him a "warm welcome".

An ex-bishop, a writer and a psychologist are among Scottish commentators who have cast doubt on a Catholic survey which suggests that men and women have different catalogues of weaknesses.

Concerned Catholics have launched a petition calling on the Church to consolidate the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, after recent papal actions that seem to point in a different direction.

In a move which is likely to puzzle many both inside and outside the Vatican, conservative Catholic groups have launched a petition to express support for Pope Benedict XVI, after recent worldwide criticism.

Following vast international pressure and condemnation, including a sharp riposte from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Vatican says it is asking a Holocaust-denying bishop to publicly recant

The Interfaith Alliance UK, which aims to be a progressive voice of religious cooperation on social issues, has expressed concern that some in the Catholic hierarchy are trying to reverse key reforms in the Church.