Will the next pope be Italian?
After a Pole and a German, will the Roman Catholic Church revert to an Italian leader once again?
Historic week looms for Vatican with papal resignation
Pope Benedict XVI's final Sunday prayers in St Peter's Square will signal the start of a week in the Vatican that will make history with the first voluntary papal resignation in more than 700 years.
Spiritual Management of Muslims of Kazakhstan to start issuing fatwas by Shariah laws
Nursultan Nazarbayev met with the new heads of the Spiritual Management of Muslims of Kazakhstan.
Vatican's popeless interim -- the 'Sede Vacante'
After the pope's resignation on Thursday the Catholic Church will enter a period known as "Sede Vacante" ("Vacant Seat") in which a cardinal takes over interim powers before a new pope is elected.
Fresh blood to boost Kazakhstan's Muslim community: experts
Lack of professional imams and insufficient educational work are the main problems of the Spiritual Management of Muslims of Kazakhstan.
Pedophilia scandals weigh on body to elect next pope
Activists fighting for truth and justice for victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests hold out little hope for progress under the next pope as controversy brews over a US cardinal who covered up for predator clerics.
New Supreme Mufti of Kazakhstan elected
Yerzhan Mayamerov was elected the new Supreme Mufti of Kazakhstan.
Canadian papal contender not a prophet in own land
Canada's Cardinal Marc Ouellet, a mainstream conservative churchman who once said becoming pope "would be a nightmare", is now widely seen as the North American candidate for the job.
Indonesia conservatives protest against Valentine's Day
Islamic conservatives in Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim-populated nation, voiced opposition to Thursday's Valentine's Day celebrations, saying they promote teen "sex parties" and premarital sex.