Pope writes an Italian best-seller

Rome: The Pope has emerged as one of Italy's most popular authors, after selling more than 2.5 million copies of his latest book in just over a year.

The sales of Jesus of Nazareth, the first part of a two-volume biography of Christ, has convinced Helder, the largest Catholic publisher in Europe, to reprint a series of the Pope's earlier scholarship.

The book came eighth on last year's bestseller chart in Italy and outsold the latest releases by Paolo Coelho and Wilbur Smith. More than £1.6 million (Dh12 million) in royalties has gone to the Ratzinger Foundation, the Pope's charity which gives bursaries to poor students.

The popularity of the Pope has also helped sales of his two encyclicals, God is Love and Saved by Hope.

Around three million copies of the two works have been sold.