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Vatican

Pope Francis names 20 new Catholic Church cardinals

Pope Francis has named 20 new cardinals to the top of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. They include 15 who are under 80 years old and would

Egypt

Egypt celebrates the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad

Not all Muslims mark the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday but in Egypt days of celebrations are held. Mosques and streets in Cairo are bathed in light for

Myanmar

NZ bar manager faces Myanmar prison for 'insulting religion'

A New Zealand bar manager appeared in court in Myanmar on Friday on charges of insulting religion after posting an online advert showing a

Vatican

Pope urges people to unite and fight slavery and human trafficking

Pope Francis has urged people of all religions and cultures to unite to fight modern slavery and human trafficking. In his first Mass of 2015, he

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Brazilian worshippers celebrate the Goddess of the Sea

Sweden

Second suspected arson attack on mosque in Sweden

A mosque in Sweden has been the target of a suspected arsonist, the second such case in four days. Fire broke out in a Muslim centre in the southern

Sweden

Swedish PM: Religious freedoms must be defended after latest mosque attack

Sweden’s prime minister says his country must stand up to threats against religious freedoms, in the wake of a Christmas Day mosque attack. Five

Sweden

Arson attack at Swedish mosque leaves five injured

Swedish police are treating a fire at a mosque in the town of Eskilstuna as arson. Five people were reportedly injured in the attack, which happened

Egypt

Coptic Christians in Egypt on alert for attacks

Catholic Copts in Egypt are marking Christmas amid tight security after threats from Islamic extremist groups. The Christmas Eve Mass at the Coptic Catholic Church in Cairo was packed despite the aler

Vatican

Pope says world needs more tenderness and empathy

In his Christmas Eve Mass at St Peters Basilica in Rome, the pontiff said the world needs tenderness in times of conflict.

Israel

High security in Bethlehem as people gather for Christmas eve celebrations

There is high security in the West Bank town of Bethlehem for the height of the festive season

World News

‘no comment ‘: the best of 2014

Pakistan

Prayers held across Pakistan as minister warns of further attacks

Christians in Pakistan hold prayers for Peshawar victims as government steps up executions and warns of further attacks.

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Same sex marriage: Chilean pastor removed from congress for angry slurs

United Kingdom

History is made - the Church of England appoints its first female bishop

Forty-eight-year-old, mother of two, Libby Lane has made Church of England history by overturning centuries of tradition and becoming its first

Afghanistan

President Ghani fiercely attacks the Taliban and calls their violence "un-Islamic"

With the Taliban constantly probing for weaknesses in and around the Afghan capital and regaining ground as international military forces leave

Germany

Hatred of Muslims has "no place in Germany" says German Chancellor Angela Merkel

The German President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel have condemned an apparent Neo-Nazi attack on accommodation for refugees. Three

Vatican

Dalai Lama and Pope will not meet during Tibetan spiritual leader's visit to Rome

The Dalai Lama has confirmed reports that he will not be meeting Pope Francis during a visit to Rome. The Tibetan spiritual leader living in exile

Iraq

Shi'ite pilgrims flock to Kerbala despite security threat

Roads and highways across Iraq have filled with hundreds of thousands of Shi’ite pilgrims heading to Kerbala to celebrate a religious ceremony amid

Culture news

Lyon's Festival of Lights gives renewed hope to Erbil's Christian refugees

Originally a celebration of the Catholic faith, the Festival of Lights born in the French city of Lyon has today grown into a world-renowned cultural