WARSAW, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - Poles gathered for candle light vigils Wednesday to mark three years since the death of Polish-born Pope John Paul II, already hailed a saint in his homeland ahead of his Vatican beatification.

VATICAN CITY, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - The beatification process for pope John Paul II is nearly complete but a 'precise date' cannot be set for the popular pontiff to take the first step to sainthood, the prelate in charge of the dossier said Tuesday.

ROME, March 30, 2008 (AFP) - The Vatican has approved a plan to transfer the tomb of pope John Paul II from a crypt beneath Saint Peter's to the interior of the basilica itself, La Stampa reported on Sunday.

VATICAN CITY, March 27, 2008 (AFP) - The Vatican on Thursday distanced itself from an Egyptian-born journalist and vocal critic of Islamic extremism who was baptised by Pope Benedict XVI at the weekend.

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, March 24, 2008 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI said he was 'particularly close' to those sick with tuberculosis following Easter prayers which coincide with the World Tuberculosis Day.

VATICAN CITY, March 23, 2008 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday urged peaceful solutions in the world's hot spots including Tibet, the Middle East and Africa during his traditional Easter message.

VATICAN CITY, March 23, 2008 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday urged 'solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good' in Tibet, the Middle East and Africa during his traditional Easter message.

VATICAN CITY, March 23, 2008 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday celebrated Easter mass before tens of thousands of pilgrims huddled under umbrellas in St Peter's Square on the holiest day of the Christian calendar.

ROME, March 23, 2008 (AFP) - Italian editor and critic of Islamic extremism Magdi Allam, who converted to Catholicism from Islam and was just baptised by Pope Benedict XVI, on Sunday branded his former faith as intrinsically violent.

'I had to do this (abandon Islam)', Allam wrote in a long letter to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

ROME, March 23, 2008 (AFP) - Italian editor and critic of Islamic extremism Magdi Allam, who converted to Catholicism from Islam and was just baptised by Pope Benedict XVI, on Sunday branded his former faith as intrinsically violent.

'I had to do this (abandon Islam)', Allam wrote in a long letter to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.