Pope John Paul said on Saturday that despite a recruitment crisis in the priesthood he had no intention of scrapping the Church's celibacy rule -- a key issue in the debate over recent sex scandals.
"Celibacy is esteemed in the whole Church as fitting for the priesthood," the pope said in an extensive document about Catholicism in Europe.
"A revision... in this regard would not help to resolve the crisis of vocations to the priesthood being felt in many parts of Europe," he added in part of the 134-page document called "Ecclesia in Europa."
The numerous sex scandals that have hit the Catholic Church recently have led to calls for a change in the rule on celibacy.
Critics say celibacy was ultimately behind the scandals and that in a modern society inundated by sex, the line between repression and perversion can be a thin one.
Those opposed to the celibacy rule also say it has prevented some men, who may be deeply religious but would like to get married and be priests, from taking up the vocation.
The Church says there is no link between celibacy and pedophilia.
"(Celibacy) is a sign of the priest's undivided love for God and for his people," the pope said.