Vatican City, April 5 : Pope Francis has called for "decisive action" in the fight against the sexual abuse of minors by priests and directed the Vatican watchdog on such cases to ensure the perpetrators were punished.

He told Bishop Gerhard Mueller, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith - the Vatican watchdog nsex abuse cases - to ensure the perpetrators were punished, BBC reported Friday.

It was the Argentinian pope's first public statement on clerical sex abuse. He was elected last month, replacing Pope Emeritus Benedict, who became the first pope in 600 years to resign.

Vatican City, March 17 : The newly elected pope has explained what inspired him to pick the name Francis, which has never been used in papal history before.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, who was elected the 266th Pope, said during an audience with journalists that Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes had told him not to forget the poor when the conclave voted in his favour.

"He (Hummes) hugged me. He kissed me. He said don't forget about the poor. And that's how in my heart came the name Francis of Assisi," the Pope said.

Vatican City, March 16 - The Vatican has strongly denied criticism by some people in Argentina that Pope Francis failed to challenge the country's 1976-1983 military dictatorship during its "dirty war" against leftist opponents.

The accusations "must be clearly and firmly denied", said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.

"They reveal anti-clerical left-wing elements that are used to attack the Church."

Vatican City, March 14 - Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina was Wednesday night elected the Catholic Church's 266th Pope. He is first Latin American to be pontiff, and will call himself Francis I.

After his election, the 76-year-old Pope appeared on a balcony and greeted crowds in St. Peter's Square, BBC reported. He was the archbishop of Buenos Aires.

He asked the faithful to pray for him. Cheers erupted as he gave a blessing.

Vatican City, March 13 : Indian cardinal Cleemis Thottunkal is the youngest cardinal taking part in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

Also known as Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the 53-year-old Thottunkal is the archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala state in southern India. He was one of the last cardinals appointed by Benedict in November 2012.

Thottunkal is the first cardinal of the Syro-Malankar rite, a West Syrian Rite Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See, which has a total membership of around 500,000.

Vatican City, March 7 - Pope Benedict XVI's gold papal ring, the symbol of his power used to officially seal documents and ensure their authenticity, has been cancelled, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

Known as the Fisherman's Ring, it was due to be destroyed with a special silver hammer after Benedict's resignation Feb 28, symbolising the end of his authority.

Earlier, Claudio Franchi, the goldsmith who crafted the ring said he hoped his work would not be destroyed once the pontiff stepped down.

The Vatican has faced its third financial loss in a row with the loss of 4.1 million euros as deficit. It has seen expenses of 254.3 million euros against income of 250.2 million euros.

While the yearly donations from the churches across the world were climbed up by around 9% and reached at 82.52 million dollars. This donation money is known as 'Peter's Pence'.

The Vatican had used a lot of money to improve its telecommunications and at the same time it was focused on ensuring security and restoring its cultural treasures.

Vatican City, Dec 24 - The Vatican has defended its moves towards making Pope Pius XII a saint saying that they reflected the controversial wartime pontiff's piety, not his "historical impact".

Responding to widespread Jewish criticism over the moves, the Vatican Wednesday said Pius XII would not be beatified at the same time as Pope John Paul II.

The title of 'venerable' bestowed on Pius XII last Saturday by Pope Benedict XVI did not drive from Pius's "operative decisions" but his deep piety and "witness of Christian life", Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said in a statement.

Vatican City, Dec 15 : Pope Benedict XVI has delivered a strong new call for mankind to safeguard the environment, in his message for the Catholic Church's World Day of Peace which falls Jan 1.

The message titled: "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation," was issued by the Vatican on Tuesday, and comes as world leaders are participating in a summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Vatican City, Dec 15 - Pope Benedict XVI has sent a telegram to Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi deploring the violent attack against the premier, the Vatican daily Osservatore Romano reported Tuesday.

Berlusconi, 73, is in hospital in the northern city of Milan after he was struck in the face at a political rally Sunday by a man believed to have psychiatric problems.

Vatican City  - The Vatican began talks Monday with representatives of the rebel ultra-traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), nine months after Pope Benedict XVI's controversially pardoned four of the group's bishops, including one who is a Holocaust-denier.

The talks will attempt to solve doctrinal disputes that stem from the SSPX's rejection of moves modernizing the Catholic church introduced through the so-called Second Vatican Council reform process of the 1960s.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI has created a new structure to allow Anglican church congregations to effect wholesale transfers into the Catholic church, the Vatican announced Tuesday.

The move targets members of the Anglican church disaffected with its more liberal policies, including the ordination of women and homosexuals as priests and bishops.

However, the Catholic church's announcement did not make clear how the mechanics of transferring an entire congregation from one institution to the other would work.

Vatican City  - The Vatican Friday urged religious tolerance in a greeting for the Hindu festival of Diwali which many of the estimated one billion followers of the world's oldest religion will celebrate on Saturday.

The message titled: "Christians and Hindus: Committed to Integral Human Development," was signed by the head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.

Vatican City - The Roman Catholic Church "salutes with appreciation," the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama, the Vatican spokesman said Friday.

The appreciation is viewed "particularly in light of the commitment shown by the President towards the promotion of international peace and recently in favour of nuclear disarmament," spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said.

Brasilia  - The Brazilian Senate approved an agreement with the Vatican that sets up a new legal framework for the Brazilian Roman Catholic Church.

The deal approved by the Senate late Wednesday is spelled out over 20 articles and gives the Roman Catholic Church fiscal benefits and state help for the maintenance of cultural assets like buildings, museums and libraries.

It also sets ups a framework for religious education, and makes Roman Catholic marriages legally equivalent to civil marriages.

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI in talks Wednesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope that a "just and lasting solution," would be found to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

During their 15-minute meeting in the Apostolic Palace the two leaders held "cordial discussions" in which they also recalled Benedict's trip to the Holy Land earlier this year, the Vatican said in a statement.

Stara Boleslav, Czech Republic  - When Katerina Glacova, a 20-year-old mother of one, received baptism earlier this year, her relatives showed little enthusiasm.

"They told me: You are of age. It is your life. If you want to believe, then do so," she said, rolling her eyes to illustrate their measured disapproval.

Glacova represents a rare species in the Czech society - a young Roman Catholic who converted to her faith despite a secular upbringing in a country where many scorn organized religion.

Brno, Czech Republic  - Pope Benedict XVI began celebrating Sunday mass in Brno, the Czech Republic's second largest city, before a gathering of more than 120,000 people.

The papal mass marks the highlight of Benedict's three-day pastoral visit to the highly secular former Communist Eastern European country.

The pontiff was greeted by Czech President Vaclav Klaus on his arrival in Brno before being transported in his so-called popemobile to a specially-built podium on the tarmac of Turany Airport.

Prague  - Pope Benedict XVI urged Czechs to rediscover their Christian roots at the start of his three-day pastoral visit, touring the highly secular ex-communist country in a year marking two decades since Communism fell in Europe.

"Now that religious freedom has been restored, I call upon all citizens of this republic to rediscover the Christian traditions which have shaped their culture," Benedict said on arrival in Prague.

Rome  - Pope Benedict XVI was on Saturday en route to the Czech Republic for a three-day visit, his first as head of the Catholic Church.

The pontiff departed from the Ciampino airport in Rome on board an Alitalia Airbus bound for Prague, Italian media reported.

Having travelled to Africa and the Middle East, Benedict will be breaking new ground with his visit to the highly secular post- Communist country.