The truth about how the Pope joined the Hitler Youth, by Chico the cat

POPE Benedict XVI's early life has been laid bare in an authorised biography narrated by his favourite pet cat, Chico.

Aimed at children, the book, entitled Joseph and Chico, even has a preface written by Pope Benedict's secretary, Father Georg Ganswein - a further ringing endorsement.

The book details his early life in Bavaria as Joseph Ratzinger, a trainee priest, and ends with his election as leader of the Roman Catholic Church in April 2005. It also tells of his time fighting as a young man in the German army late in the Second World War.