"Carla Sarkozy is not welcome in the Vatican," says Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican officials are said to have sent the French ambassador an unambiguous message concerning the Italian-born supermodel's presence during her husband's 30-minute audience with the Pontiff earlier this month, namely: "Carla Sarkozy is not welcome in the Vatican."

Le Canard Enchaîné, the satirical weekly said the Pope was concerned that her presence would spark a rash of nude and scantily-clad photos from her modelling career being published in Italian newspapers, reports The Telegraph.

"The Holy See want(ed) to avoid photos showing Carla and the Pope together on the front pages next to older but saucier photos (of Carla)," it wrote.

As a result, the 43-year-old model-turned-pop singer stayed in Paris during her husband's lightning visit.

Photos of the French first lady with little or nothing on dating from her catwalk model days have been a regular feature in the French and international press.

In one cover released in a Spanish magazine weeks before her February 2008 marriage to Mr Sarkozy, she appears reclining on a black leather sofa wearing nothing but high-boots.

A black and white print of her baring all and covering her intimacy with her hands was auctioned off at Christie's days after her first state visit to Britain in March 2008.