The Vatican has backed the tradition of celibacy for Catholic priests after a meeting between the Pope and advisers. The Pope and his cardinals discussed the case of a married African archbishop, excommunicated last year for ordaining other married priests.
"The value of the choice of priestly celibacy... has been reaffirmed," the Vatican said in a statement.
Thousands of the Catholic Church's 400,000 priests worlwide have left in order to marry in recent years. Read More