Pope Benedict XVI has met top advisers at the Vatican to study requests from Catholic priests who wish to marry.
The Vatican has backed the tradition of celibacy for Catholic priests after a meeting between the Pope and advisers.
The Pope and his cardinals discussed the case of a married African archbishop, excommunicated last year for ordaining other married priests.
The Pope and his cardinals discussed the case of a married African archbishop, excommunicated last year for ordaining other married priests.
Correspondents say no change in the mandatory celibacy rule is expected.
"The value of the choice of priestly celibacy... has been reaffirmed," the Vatican said in a statement.
Thousands of priests among about 400,000 worldwide have left the Catholic Church in order to marry in recent years.
Thousands of the Catholic Church's 400,000 priests worldwide have left in order to marry in recent years.
The Vatican has released no statement yet on the meeting.
Ageing clergy
Ageing clergy
The Pope had called together all his top advisers - the cardinals heading different Vatican departments - to discuss the case of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, the former head of the Roman Catholic Church in Zambia.
The Pope had called together all his top advisers - the cardinals heading different Vatican departments - to discuss the case of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, the former head of the Roman Catholic Church in Zambia.
He was excommunicated last month after ordaining four married priests as bishops in the United States.
He was excommunicated last month after ordaining four married priests as bishops in the United States.
The former archbishop married a Korean woman and after first agreeing to leave her, is now cohabiting with her again.
The former archbishop married a Korean woman and after first agreeing to leave her, is now cohabiting with her again.
He set up an organisation called "Married Priests Now" and plans to hold a meeting of more than 1,000 married Catholic priests in New York next month.
He set up an organisation called "Married Priests Now" and plans to hold a meeting of more than 1,000 married Catholic priests in New York next month.
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the average age of priests is well over 60 and in many countries new recruits to the priesthood, inhibited by the celibacy rule, are not coming forward in sufficient numbers to replace the older generation of Catholic clergy.
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the average age of priests is well over 60 and in many countries new recruits to the priesthood, inhibited by the celibacy rule, are not coming forward in sufficient numbers to replace the older generation of Catholic clergy.
Eastern rite Catholic priests are allowed to marry and the Vatican has also admitted married clergy who converted from the Anglican faith, our correspondent says.
Eastern rite Catholic priests are allowed to marry and the Vatican has also admitted married clergy who converted from the Anglican faith, our correspondent says.
Are you Catholic? How would you feel if your priest wanted to get married? Or are you a priest affected by any of the issues in this story? You can contact us using the form below:
Are you Catholic? How would you feel if your priest wanted to get married? Or are you a priest affected by any of the issues in this story? You can contact us using the form below:
