The Roman Catholic Church in Mexico has denounced the sale of bogus tickets for events during Pope John Paul II's visit at the end of the month.

It says ticket touts have been offering phoney tours and admission to masses that the Pope will celebrate in Mexico City.

The church says that, in fact, there are no tickets for sale - official tickets will be distributed to dioceses, which will in turn give them free to their parishioners.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service