Pope understands youth who lose faith over church sins
Pope Francis on Friday voiced understanding for young people who have lost faith over the Catholic Church's failings and those turned off by corrupt politics.
Pope warns Latin America against legalizing drugs
Pope Francis warned Latin America against legalizing drugs on Wednesday, delving into a hot topic in his home region after celebrating the first public mass of his landmark visit to Brazil.
Grace church pastor in for psychiatric check in Almaty
Pastor of a protestant church in Astana, accused of harming one of the church’s members, will have to undergo a psychiatric check in Almaty.
Brazilians throng streets to greet pope
Tens of thousands of pilgrims packed Rio de Janeiro's streets to greet Pope Francis on Monday, joyfully swarming his car and chanting his name in a country recently rocked by social unrest.
Yemenis battle for mosques in Sunni-Shiite divide
Sunni Muslim extremists and Shiite Zaidi rebels in Yemen are waging a battle for the control of mosques, in a spillover of the sectarian face-off rattling the Middle East.
Militant makes jihad calls in Kazakh language
Site Intel Group has uploaded a with a militant, allegedly Kazakhstan-born, calling for jihad in Syria.
Vatican envoy apologises to Malaysia over 'Allah' row
The Vatican's first-ever envoy to Malaysia has apologised for supporting the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims after he was summoned by the foreign minister.
Dead pigs dumped at Australian cemetery's Muslim graves
Australian police on Wednesday said they were investigating after the remains of two pigs, including their heads and entrails, were dumped at the Muslim section of a cemetery.
Brazil military boosting security for papal visit
The Brazilian military decided to boost security above its original plans for Pope Francis' visit during a major Catholic youth fest late this month.
Pope visits Italy refugee island
Pope Francis arrived on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, a key destination of tens of thousands of would-be immigrants from Africa, in a visit the Vatican hopes will raise awareness of their plight.
Women's prayer tests ultra-Orthodox hold on Western Wall
The singing rises through the early-morning cool which still covers the esplanade in front of the Western Wall, the holiest site at which Jews can pray.
Sri Lanka monk fights for life after immolation bid
A Sri Lankan monk was fighting for his life Saturday, a day after setting himself on fire to protest the slaughter of cattle.
Indonesian 'Hijabers' buy into an Islamic economy
Indonesian event organiser Risti Rahmadi wears an Islamic headscarf, uses halal lipstick and knows that it's time to pray when an app on her BlackBerry emits Koranic verses five times a day.
Grace church pastor arrested in Astana
Bakhytzhan Kashkymbayev, Pastor of Grace church in Astana, has been arrested and charged with intended infliction of harm to human health.
Chinese held in Pakistani Kashmir over Koran abuse
A Chinese man working on an energy project in Pakistan-administered Kashmir was being held Saturday after hundreds of protesters attacked his company offices over the alleged desecration of a Koran.
Kazakhstan's Catholics receive unique golden altar
The official ceremony of passing the Stars of Kazakhstan Altar to Kazakhstan’s Catholics was held in Czestochowa, Poland.
Nazarbayev attends Easter service in Uspensky Cathedral
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Uspensky Cathedral, Kazakhstan’s major orthodox church, on Easter Sunday.
Syria Orthodox Easter marred by bishops in captivity
Syria's Greek Orthodox faithful bore a heavy cross on Friday as they marked the crucifixion of Christ, their country ravaged by two years of war and two of their bishops missing after being kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
Brazil priest excommunicated over support for gays
A Catholic priest in southeastern Brazil was excommunicated on Monday after publicly resigning from his duties to protest against the church's opposition to homosexuality.
Archbishop says OK with irking British PM on economy
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby accepted in an interview aired Saturday that he had probably ruffled the British government's feathers with his comments on the bleak state of the economy.