Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is to become a monk.
A spokesperson said that he would be entering a monastery before the coming weekend.
The monastery is on the Isola Piccolo Deserta, a barren isle of 109 inhabitants off the coast of the Italian town of Bari. Its 37 monks have expressed their admiration for Signor Berlusconi because there are no women on Isola Piccolo Deserta; there were seven but they set off in a rowing boat for Bari on hearing of the prime minister's arrival.
The flamboyant Berlusconi, one of Italy's richest men, will live in a cave dug into one of the isle's grey hills. As is the custom among the monks, his cave companions will be a mule, a doe (female) goat and some hens. He would have to care for them. He will wear a brown cassock but no underwear or shoes, and he will sleep on the ground. His daily meal will consist of beans and the eggs his hens will lay and the milk his doe goat will supply. The mule will be his only means of transport to get around the isle.
He is to remain on the isle for the rest of his life.
Pope Benedict XV1, on hearing the news, sent Signor Berlusconi an e-mail message to welcome him to celibacy.
"Don't quote me on this," read the pope's message, "but women are just a nuisance. Whatever they can do for us men, a man can do better."
