The Latest Breaking News from Church

Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis, who recently raised the possibility of retiring due to his declining health, will create 20 new cardinals on Saturday -- many of whom could one day choose his successor.

A legal battle over the ownership of historic properties belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church has turned political.

Pope Francis on Sunday called for an "open and sincere" dialogue to resolve a stand-off between the Church and government in Nicaragua, following the arrest of a bishop who is a leading critic of President Daniel Ortega.

In the opening address of this year’s Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) Australasia, Bishop Richard Condie announced the creation of the Diocese of the Southern Cross. In Bishop Condie’s words:

A Nicaraguan Catholic priest from a northern parish was detained after celebrating Mass, the Church said, amid rising tensions between the church and the government of President Daniel Ortega.

An electrical fire swept through an Egyptian Coptic Christian church during Mass on Sunday, causing a stampede and killing at least 41 people, most of them children, security sources said. The blaze started just before 9 a.m. in the Abu Sifin church in the city of Giza where 5,000 people…

KOCHI

Nicaraguan police have banned a Catholic procession and pilgrimage in the capital of Managua on Saturday, citing internal security reasons, the archdiocese said on Friday as the crackdown on the Church intensifies.

Elder said: “Our congregation is in very good heart and we have a regular attendance at the church, which is both in a fantastic state of repair both physical and spiritually."