Pope Benedict XVI has officially joined the Twitter generation with his first ever tweet today – and on an iPad no less.

The Pope used his first 140 characters to announce the launch of a brand new online portal where visitors can find all the latest news from the Vatican.

“Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI,” he tweeted. more >>

Amanda Knox, sentenced to 26 years in prison for the barbarous killing of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, in 2007, was in trial once again on Monday appealing against her murder conviction.

It has been almost 43 months since she last lived freedom, when the trial over the brutal killing of the British national reached a verdict sending Amanda, her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and Rudy Guede, whose DNA was found in Kercher's body, to prison.

The trial session is scheduled to resume on June 30, where forensic specialists will submit the results for DNA tests that will play an important role in judging whether or not Amanda took part in the killings. more >>

Amanda Knox's appeal against her conviction on murder charges continued Monday in what was described as an agitated session where Rudy Guede, key witness and first man to be convicted for the killing of the British national, Meredith Kercher back in 2007, was called to respond to various claims.

Having been called out of Viterbo jail, where he currently serves his 16-year sentence, Guede was asked to respond to what his fellow inmate had testified in the previous session: "Guede gave me his confession that Knox and Sollecito had no role in killing Kercher."

Calling the statement pure "rubbish," Guede upheld his previous accusation and confirmed that Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Raffaelle Sollecito, were the killers. more >>

A trial in Italy with Amanda Knox appealing against her conviction for sexually assaulting and murdering her then 21-year-old British roommate Meredith Kercher, resumed on Saturday.

Several convicted inmates took the stand, claiming to possess “evidence” proving Knox's innocence; evidence that still remains unverified and put in high doubt for their inconsistencies.

Knox along with her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, and a third party, Rudy Hermann Guede, were all convicted for murder and sentenced to 26, 25, and 30 years respectively, although Guede's was later reduced to 16. more >>

Taking Rome by storm, Lady Gaga made a special appearance at the 2011 Gay Pride Parade and Concert in Rome over the weekend in hopes of bringing a message of defiance against the Vatican, organizers said.

The event drew an estimated one million participants in support of gay rights in Italy, which is a country that currently does not allow same-sex marriage or adoption by gay couples.

Gaga performed at the historic Circus Maximus. She is reportedly Italian-American and has long lobbied for gay rights in the United States. more >>

A crowd of over 1 million people converged on St Peter’s Square and surrounding streets in Vatican City Sunday morning to witness the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

The crowd came from around the world to participate in the celebration led by Pope Benedict XVI.

John Paul II, who died in 2005 after 25 years as pope, was declared a “blessed,” a step under sainthood, during the special mass. more >>