Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to meet with the new general secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, on Saturday.

Speaking ahead of the meeting at the Vatican, Tveit said he expected to discuss some of the challenges facing the global body of Christ, including ongoing efforts towards church unity and the plight of Christians in the Middle East.

“It is important that we speak honestly in this meeting about the challenges we have,” Tveit said. “There are expectations for the ecumenical movement that have not been fulfilled, and there are tensions arising in and between churches. more >>

Nearly one month after one of the deadliest attacks against Iraqi Christians, Iraq made its first arrests, an interior ministry official said Saturday.

The official, who spoke to Agence France-Presse on the condition of anonymity, said 12 members of the group responsible for the Oct. 31 church siege in Baghdad have been arrested.

The Sunni militant group Islamic State of Iraq has claimed responsibility for the attack against believers at Our Lady of Salvation, Baghdad's main Catholic church. Militants had stormed the church during mass wearing suicide vests and taking about 120 churchgoers hostage. Nearly 60 people, mainly worshippers, were killed. More were wounded. more >>

Pope Benedict XVI has suggested that condoms may be justified in some situations to prevent the infection of HIV/AIDS.

A new book, Light of the World, features excerpts of an interview with journalist Peter Seewald in which the pope cites the example of a male prostitute and suggests that it would be acceptable for him to wear a condom.

The pope says: “There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. more >>

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams on Friday welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to Lambeth Palace where they discussed unity and the challenges Christians face in culture.

It was the first time in history that a pontiff visited the Archbishop of Canterbury's official London residence.

The Anglican and Roman Catholic heads shared warm words as they expressed their desire to build closer relations. more >>

LONDON – Controversy surrounding the visit of Pope Benedict XVI has failed to curb the excitement of Catholics as the Pope landed in Edinburgh this morning for his official state visit to Britain.

The Pope was received at Holyrood Palace after his arrival. Among the dignitaries there to receive him were the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev John Christie, and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the four-day visit was a moment of “great pride and joy”. more >>

Pope Benedict XVI drew the Catholic Church’s Year for Priests to an official close Friday with another apology for the abuse of children by Catholic priests.

Addressing 15,000 priests from around the world in St. Peter’s Square yesterday, the pope begged God’s forgiveness for the “abuse of the little ones” as he admitted that a year intended to celebrate priests ended quite differently.

“In the very year of joy for the sacrament of the priesthood, the sins of priests came to light,” he said. more >>