Vatican prosecutors said that the 18-page manuscript, which apparently contains the first known specifications for the gilding of the Baldacchino canopy, had disappeared from the basilica archives.

The statement suggested that Vatican law enforcement had essentially set a trap: They launched an investigation after the basilica first made a complaint about the manuscript, and then followed the negotiations for the purchase of it until the money actually exchanged hands on May 27 in the Vatican.

The person implicated had worked for the Fabbrica di San Pietro. This entity administers the basilica and was attempting to sell the manuscript to the Fabbrica when he was arrested on May 27, according to a statement from prosecutors released by the Holy See press office.

The Italian newspaper Domani reported on the case on Thursday, stating that there is a dispute about the origins of the manuscript and whether it had been in the basilica archives before. An art historian, who is a friend of the accused, mentioned that there is no record of the manuscript in the basilica archives catalogue since at least 1900. Read more

"The greatest church of Christendom, built on the holy grave of the martyr-prince of the Apostles, has been known as ‘St. Peter's Basilica' for 1700 years," Fr. Lombardi explained. "It was long overdue for a rebranding."

He continued that this was just the next step in Pope Francis' greater program of trying to make the church more relatable to the average person. Continue reading with your tongue in your cheek.

The thunderstorm was labelled a 'freak occurrence'.

While not unknown in winter, thunderstorms are more likely to hit Rome in spring or summer.

Benedict shocked the Consistory and the world saying he no longer enjoyed the health needed to continue as Pontiff.

Filippo Monteforte is the photographer.

"And you lightning and clouds, O bless the Lord, to him be highest glory and praise for ever". Canticle of Daniel Chapter 3.

Guy Devreux, who directs the Vatican's workshop for marble and limestone structures, says cleaning the Gian Lorenzo Bernini's statue-topped colonnade that cradles St. Peter's Square should take far less time.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey will sing alongside the Cappella Musicale Pontificia, the Sistine Chapel Choir, at the liturgies of the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul which will be broadcast across the world. This momentous ecumenical occasion is the first time in its over-500 year history that the Sistine Chapel Choir has joined forces with another choir.

The invitation to Rome came after Pope Benedict XVI visited the Abbey in September 2010 when he attended Evening Prayer and prayed at the tomb of St Edward the Confessor with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams, as part of his State Visit to England and Scotland.