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Vatican

Pope Francis may meet the 'pro-war' leader of Russia's Orthodox Church

The EU accuses Patriarch Kirill of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.

Greece

Greek Church protests baptism for celebrity same-sex parents

Greece's Orthodox Church says it will send a letter of protest to the archbishop who heads the church in the US after he baptised the children of celebrity fashion designer Peter Dundas and his partner, Evangelo Bousis.

Art

Curse-fearing thief returns 2000-year-old sacred relic

A Dutch art sleuth has tracked down one of the most sacred artefacts of the Catholic Church.

Green News

Is the Pope vegan? Catholic leader tells Europeans to eat less meat

The Pope has urged that we “break this self-destructive trend” of consumerism.

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Green News

Local branch of UK's biggest church is first to pledge climate action

From now on, those who undertake confirmation or baptism ceremonies at the large Church of England diocese will also have to commit to climate action.

Destinations

Syrian monastery on the edge of a cliff opens its doors for tourists

A lone Syrian monastery that was once a hub for interfaith dialogue has reopened to visitors after more than a decade of war.

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'Venezuelan dancing devils': personifying the evil to defeat it

Frightening 'devils' walk the streets of Naiguata, a coastal city in Venezuela, wearing colourful masks and costumes with belts laden with bunches of bells, for the famous Dancing Devils festival.

Netherlands

Austrian man jailed after six Dutch children found isolated for years

The children's deeply religious father had kept them locked up at a remote farmhouse to protect them from "evil" outside influences.

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Portugal celebrates Saint Anthony's festival after two years of hiatus

The Festival of Saint Anthony returns to the Portuguese capital Lisbon after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Italy

'Life that was': Experts restore historic synagogues in Venice ghetto

Venice’s ghetto dates from 1516 when the republic forced the city's Jewish residents into isolation in the district where the old foundries, or “geti”, had been located.

World News

Moscow-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church cuts ties over war

Church leaders say Russia broke God's commandment "Thou shalt not kill", condemning Moscow Patriarch Kirill's vocal support for the war.

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Priest holds mass in basement of Ukraine church amid sounds of Russian shelling

In the midst of the noise of Russian shelling in the neighbouring city of Severodonetsk, on the east Ukrainian front, believers of Orthodox Church in Lysychansk attend a mass at the basement of a damaged church.

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Jewish pilgrimage begins at the Ghriba synagogue in Tunisia

Pilgrims have arrived for the annual Ghriba pilgrimage on the tourist island of Djerba in southern Tunisia.

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Indonesians celebrate Vesak at world's largest Buddhist temple

Indonesian Buddhists released hundreds of lanterns to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha Siddharta Gautama.

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A thousand candles lit up in Bangkok to mark Buddha's birthday

Thailand commemorates Visakha Bucha Day, Buddhism's most sacred day of the year which marks Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, held on the full moon of the third lunar month in the Buddhist calendar.

Green News

Euroviews. How can we make sense of Wynn Alan Bruce's self-immolation?

In the wake of the climate activist's death, Rupert Read explores the historical and religious context asking what the rest of us should do now.

Culture news

The digitsation of spirituality: Can social media promote goodness?

"People today are not only hungry for connection, we need it to heal," says Dr Darren Weissman, a popular figure in American spiritual thought and daily user of this new platform.

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Thousands of Muslims in India, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq gathered on Tuesday to pray for Eid al-Fitr.

They joined Muslims across the Middle East and beyond observing Eid, which is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Muslim world and traditionally a time for family and festivities.

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Women bear weight of Easter rite in changing Spain

A team of women rock from one foot to another rhythmically as they carry a 1.5-tonne float topped with a statue of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary through the streets of Granada in southern Spain.

Vatican

Pope Francis calls for "Easter truce" in Palm Sunday address

Celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said that the “folly of war” leads people to commit “senseless acts of cruelty.”