Pope Benedict XVI was presented today with an enormous, 550lbs, 7ft 2ins tall chocolate Easter egg by Italian chocolatier Tosca, which specialises in oversized cocoa confections.

The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano said Benedict plans to donate the egg, which features the papal coat of arms, to a juvenile detention centre in Rome.

In Italy, children traditionally receive a big chocolate egg with a prize inside on Easter Sunday.

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