Vatican November 1, 2016 Pope Francis: Catholic church's ban on women priests may last forever Pope Francis has ruled out women's ordination, saying the "last word" on the question was delivered by St. John Paul II and that no changes are foreseen.
Middle East November 1, 2016 First mass in years held in Iraqi church after ISIS driven out of town For the first time in years, bells rang out on the roof of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the Iraqi town of Qaraqosh, which was feed from the Islamic State's grip last week after an intense fight.
RELIGION November 1, 2016 Sri Lanka cracks down on owners of elephants taken from wild In Sri Lanka, an elephant in the back yard has long been a sign of wealth, privilege and power.
RELIGION November 1, 2016 Palestinian lawyer fights for women, one divorce at a time In a divorce court where a man's testimony is worth twice a woman's, victory for lawyer Reema Shamasneh is rare and often bittersweet.
Europe November 1, 2016 Pope celebrates Swedish Catholics after Luther commemoration Pope Francis is greeting the crowd at a sports stadium where he is celebrating Mass for Sweden's tiny Catholic community.
Europe November 1, 2016 German woman attacks police with box cutter, IS flags found German police say a Muslim convert attacked officers with a box cutter while shouting "Allahu akbar" after they were called to her apartment in the western city of Essen.
RELIGION November 1, 2016 Prosecutors to interview woman at center of SKorean scandal South Korea is hoping for answers Monday about its biggest scandal in years.
US November 1, 2016 Talks begin between Venezuela's government and opposition Members of Venezuela's opposition sat down with the government for talks aimed at defusing the nation's political crisis as embattled President Nicolas Maduro seeks to fend off a campaign seeking his removal.
Europe October 31, 2016 Residents escorted to retrieve belongings after quake Italian authorities say that more than 15,000 people have sought assistance from Italy's Civil Protection agency and are being housed in hotels and shelters following Sunday's quake and the one last week.
Europe October 31, 2016 The reformer pope heads to Sweden to mark Luther's reforms Pope Francis is heading to secular Sweden to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, a remarkably bold gesture given his very own Jesuit religious order was founded to defend the faith against Martin Luther's "heretical" reforms five centuries ago.