At an inter-religious service organized by the Vatican, a church leader has advocated “expressions for peace and the mutual respect for the dignity of the other”.

The World Council of Churches has sent a warm message to the general assembly of bishops of the Catholic Church on the anniversary of the Second Vatican Council.

Cash strapped as it seeks to avoid the European debt crisis, Italy's parliament is debating a measure to force church-owned properties to pay property taxes.

The Vatican has set the scene for the twenty-sixth international conference organised by the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care this week.