The three-hour drive to Florence was our last long bus trip, and Li raced through some topics, including Catholics and divorce, Pavarotti, balsamic vinegar, truffles and the pigs that find them, and leather goods that are marked as Italian but made in China.

NEWYORKER: The Grand Tour

The ABS explanation: It incurs extra costs because it has to serve a range of denominations, including Roman Catholics, Protestants and Lutherans, while other Bible charities stick to one flavor.

FORBES: Self-Employment

He said there was now a real chance for the service to have the full endorsement of Protestants and Catholics, including republicans.

BBC: RUC courage 'will not be forgotten'

But a spring Quinnipiac University poll found that most American voters, including two-thirds of Catholics, oppose church leaders pressuring voters politically.

CNN: Debate puts?Missouri back in play

Some conservatives are also reported to favour a papal resignation, apparently because they are angry over series of millennium initiatives including apologising for the sins of Catholics through the centuries.

BBC: Pope 'may quit' if health worsens