Pope Benedict XVI has met with Metropolitan Hilarion, the Russian Orthodox Church's chief ecumenical affairs officer, at Castel Gandolfo.

Workshops led by the Orthodox at the recent International Ecumenical Peace Convocation led to robust, honest exchanges about mutual relations.

Differences over arcane church issues are preventing Orthodox churches getting together to discuss common issues and speak with one voice on major topics.

Bulgarian Orthodox priests have decided to to join a trade union because they have not received statutory entitlements and have not been paid on time.