Pope's retirement is sure to benefit newspaper sales

In an article in yesterday's Guardian an argument was made that Pope Benedict had come to realise how unruly the Curia was and that he felt it was time for a younger, more energetic man take over the Petrine office.

One is tempted to ask what control or real power Benedict had when it came to the day-to-day running of the Vatican. What influence did he have in the making of appointments?

In yesterday's Irish Times Vincent Browne wrote a critical column on the church. Had a Catholic priest written the column would he be censored? And if so, why?