The Pope has lifted the excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church of four bishops appointed by a breakaway archbishop more than 20 years ago.

One of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre's appointees, Briton Richard Williamson, outraged Jews by saying the Nazi gas chambers did not exist.

Israel's envoy to the Vatican said the papal decision would "cast a shadow on relations with Jews".

The Vatican said the excommunications had been lifted after the bishops affirmed their willingness to accept Church teachings and papal authority.