• Pope Prays for Peace in Iraq

  Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday encouraged Christians and Muslims in Iraq to continue their centuries-old brotherly ties as he prayed for peace and harmony in the violence-wracked country.

• Survey: Many in Europe Confused on AIDS

  Almost half of the European Union population continues to have misconceptions about the ways in which HIV/AIDS can be spread, the European Commission said Monday.

• Bush Says U.N. Should Not Wait on Darfur

  President Bush said Monday the United Nations should send a peacekeeping force to the troubled Darfur region of Sudan as soon as possible without further delay.

• Vatican Envoys Urged to Work for Freedom

  The Vatican's new secretary of state urged diplomats Friday to work for religious freedom everywhere, touching on a sensitive issue between the Holy See and some countries, including Muslim ones, whe

• Catholic, Orthodox Leaders Seek to Close Thousand-Year-Old Rift

  Roman Catholic and Christian Orthodox leaders meeting for the first time in six years said they will continue their efforts to bridge the divide between their ancient branches of Christianity.