Rather, the Catholic Church believes it is the Holy Spirit who guides the process and so the Cardinal electors are constantly in prayer and discernment to choose the next Pope.

FORBES: How Is A New Pope Elected?

The Holy See is the supreme government of the Roman Catholic Church, which operates from the independent territory of the Vatican City State in Rome.

BBC: Jimmy Savile

None of the hundreds of priests, bishops and cardinals who work inside the Holy See, the central administration of the Roman Catholic Church, have been charged in connection with this very serious breach of security.

BBC: Vatican embarrassment as Pope's butler goes on trial

The parents of a boy with Down's syndrome have criticised the Roman Catholic Church for not allowing him to take his first Holy Communion.

BBC: Church refuses boy with Down's syndrome Holy Communion