Gay Catholic priests looking to meet up for friendship and more now have a place to do it online.

Venerabilis, an unofficial gay dating site targeted for priests and the people who love them, is allegedly based in Vatican City.

An Italian newspaper is blaming the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on the ‘gay influence’ within the Vatican.

Referring to an internal report prepared by three senior cardinals, La Repubblica claims there was an ‘inappropriate influence’ by gay priests in internal Holy See affairs.

Filed by cardinals Julian Herranz, Josef Tomko and Salvatore De Giorgi, it was commissioned by Benedict himself.

The newspaper suggests when Pope Benedict saw the report back in December, it hardened his resolve to quit as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The newspaper of the Holy See in Rome has denied that the Catholic Church is losing the fight on same-sex marriage despite recent gains in the US and France following national elections.

Benetton’s ‘Unhate’ advertising campaign, which features images of world leaders locking lips, has sparked fury from religious groups and praise from advertising awards.

The clothing company has had a strong reaction after creating the campaign launched last November, aimed at fostering tolerance for homosexuality and ‘global love’.

Computer manipulated shots include US President Barack Obama kissing his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel embracing ex-French President Nicolas Sarkosy.

An Italian gay man with syphilis has been forced to seek treatment in Vatican City after he was told chemists in Rome no longer provide the medicine he needs.

The 24-year-old went to the Pope's home country looking for a cure to his illness after the Italian national health system discontinued the medicines against syphilis one year ago.

But, in the Vatican, the price of the medicine is three times that of what it was in Italy.