Hard-line Myanmar monk to battle 'jihad threat'
A controversial Buddhist cleric from Myanmar announced he is linking up with hardline monks in Sri Lanka.
Mother Teresa 'would have scared me' says pope
Pope Francis joked during a visit to Albania that Mother Teresa would have struck fear into him if she had been his mother superior.
Pope says religion can't justify violence
Pope Francis warned during a visit to Albania that religion can never be used to justify violence.
Merkel pledges zero tolerance for anti-Semitism
Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed to resolutely combat anti-Semitism, speaking at a rally to condemn a spate of hate speech and attacks against Jews.
Ancient Ethiopian walled city keeps modern life at bay
Hyenas howl and feast on flesh every night outside the ancient walls of Harar -- one of Islam's holiest cities .
Pope makes plea for Koreas to unite as 'one people'
Pope Francis urged the divided Koreas to reject suspicion and confrontation and unite as "one family, one people".
'What would we die for?' Pope asks at mass for Korean martyrs
Pope Francis beatified 124 early Korean martyrs at a mass in Seoul and challenged the crowd to ask what values they might be willing to die for.
Indonesian capital set for first ethnic Chinese governor
Indonesia's small ethnic Chinese community faced severe discrimination for decades during the Suharto dictatorship.
Pope to speak to N. Korea's 'church of silence'
Pope Francis will offer prayers for Korean reconciliation in Seoul next week
Thousands mark Moon death anniversary in S. Korea
More than 20,000 followers of the Unification Church gathered in South Korea for the second anniversary of the death of their "messiah" .
China pursues 'Chinese Christian theology': state media
China will construct a "Chinese Christian theology" suitable for the country with both believer numbers and tensions with authorities.
Arab states to mark end of Ramadan from Monday
The Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan will begin on Monday in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring states.
Iraqi jihadists order genital mutilation of all women
Jihadists in Iraq have ordered that all women between the ages of 11 and 46 must undergo female genital mutilation, which could affect up to four million women and girls in the war-ravaged country, a UN official said
Sudanese Christian woman spared death sentence meets Pope
A Sudanese Christian woman whose death sentence for renouncing Islam sparked a global outcry that eventually led to an acquittal, met Pope Francis after arriving in Italy en route to the United States.
Philippine sect opens 'world's largest indoor arena'
Philippine President Benigno Aquino presided over the opening on Monday of what is billed as the world's largest indoor stadium, erected by a politically-influential religious sect.
Argentine 'Dirty War' officers guilty of killing bishop
Two retired military officers were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Catholic bishop during Argentina's 1976-1983 dictatorship.
Saudi to mark Ramadan from Sunday
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, will begin on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, the state-run Al-Ekhbariya television channel reported.
Death-row Sudanese Christian freed but fears for life: lawyer
A Sudanese Christian who gave birth in prison after being sentenced to hang for apostasy was freed Monday but immediately went into hiding, fearing for her life, a lawyer said.
Christians lose divisive bid to use 'Allah' in Malaysia
Malaysia's highest court on Monday dismissed a bid by Christians for the right to use the word "Allah", ending a years-long legal battle that has escalated religious tensions in the Muslim-majority country.
France's Jewish community elects new Grand Rabbi
France's Jewish community elected the Jewish chaplain of the French army as its new Grand Rabbi, as it grapples with rising anti-Semitism.