Suddenly, like magic, the Vatican has found itself awash in cash. In an extraordinary revelation, Cardinal George Pell, the Australian prelate charged by Pope Francis with cleaning up the Vatican's murky finances, has disclosed that they discovered "hundreds of millions of euros ... tucked away" in accounts of various Holy See departments that did not appear in the Vatican's official balance sheets.
The Philippines braced for yet another catastrophic storm on Thursday as typhoon Hagupit (Filipino for "lash") roared toward the central part of the country packing winds of up to 195 kph (120 mph) with gusts of up to 230 kph.
An American schoolteacher working in Abu Dhabi was reportedly stabbed in a mall restroom on Monday by a suspect wearing a full-veiled outfit, known as a niqab.
For the first time in history, leaders of the world's major religions came together at the Vatican on Tuesday to sign a declaration condemning modern slavery and urging the world to stamp out all forms of this "crime against humanity" by 2020.
The U.S. announced Wednesday that Iran may have participated in its first round of airstrikes targeting the Islamic State.
Lebanese media outlets are reporting that the wife of the head of the Islamic State was recently detained by authorities while trying to cross into the country from Syria.
The United States military has issued a warning of possible Islamic State terrorist attacks on U.S. military bases.
During his visit to Turkey this week, Pope Francis called on Middle Eastern countries to work together to protect Christians in the area occupied by large Muslim populations.
An American couple acquitted of murder charges in Qatar was prevented from leaving the country and returning to the U.S. this weekend.
Christian residents in the Syrian city of Aleppo have reportedly sworn to hold their ground, instead of fleeing, despite the threat of an Islamic State invasion.
In an extraordinary display of Christian unity, Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople kissed the head of Pope Francis as they issued a joint declaration urging world leaders to extend more assistance to victims of Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria, including Christians who have been living in the region for 2,000 years.
A North Carolina county has argued that its legal battle with former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear’s The Summit Church over a proposed campus expansion centers on the limits of federal court authority rather than allegations of religious discrimination.
A New Mexico megachurch pastor has publicly backed two Republican candidates in the 2026 midterm elections, renewing debate over federal rules restricting political campaign involvement by tax-exempt religious organizations. Steve Smothermon, pastor of Legacy Church, has reportedly urged members of his congregation to support Republican congressional candidates.
Arkansas has been named the most pro-life state in the United States for the seventh consecutive year in an annual ranking by Americans United for Life (AUL), which also recognized Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill for her legal efforts challenging federal abortion pill regulations. The advocacy organization released its 2027 Life List on Wednesday, evaluating all 50 states according to laws addressing “all bioethical issues from conception to natural death, not just abortion.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected allegations that his government is persecuting Christians, defending religious freedom in Ukraine and criticizing American political commentator Tucker Carlson for making claims about a country he suggested Carlson had never visited. Zelensky addressed the accusations during a Saturday interview with Tony Perkins on “This Week on Capitol Hill.”
More than half of Protestant pastors in the United States say economic conditions are negatively affecting their congregations, as church donations continue to lag behind inflation, according to a new Lifeway Research survey. The annual study found that 54% of pastors believe the economy is hurting their churches, compared with 36% who reported no impact and 8% who described its effects as positive.