Pope Benedict XVI has become the latest celebrity to get himself an iPod.

It is actually a white iPod nano, comes with a useful iPod case to prevent scratches, and would have cost him around £100 if he had bought it himself.

The iPod was actually a gift from Vatican Radio, which offers podcast audio files in eight different languages. The pope was visiting the station to mark its 75th anniversary and the iPod was specially engraved on the back.

The German pontiff is reported to enjoy listening to classical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven rather than the pop tunes more commonly associated with the mini music devices.

The pope also has a penchant for the nocturnes of Chopin, born in his predecessor’s native Poland.

On being handed the gift, the pope is reported to have remarked “ Computer technology is the future.”

© 2006 Adfero Ltd