Catholic Ministry recruiting changes? (BBC)
Pope Benedict XVI has met top advisers at the Vatican to study requests from Catholic priests who wish to marry.
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the average age of priests is well over 60 and in many countries new recruits to the priesthood, inhibited by the celibacy rule, are not coming forward in sufficient numbers to replace the older generation of Catholic clergy.
Correspondents say no change in the mandatory celibacy rule is expected.
Thousands of priests among about 400,000 worldwide have left the Catholic Church in order to marry in recent years.
The Vatican has released no statement yet on the meeting.
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the average age of priests is well over 60 and in many countries new recruits to the priesthood, inhibited by the celibacy rule, are not coming forward in sufficient numbers to replace the older generation of Catholic clergy.
Correspondents say no change in the mandatory celibacy rule is expected.
Thousands of priests among about 400,000 worldwide have left the Catholic Church in order to marry in recent years.
The Vatican has released no statement yet on the meeting.
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