Church

• Africa is now the most dangerous region for Catholic missionaries

  During 2018 40 missionaries were killed throughout the world, up from 23 the previous year.

• Is this the greatest hymn of praise to Jesus ever written?

  On this day in 1792 died Edward Perronet, whose hymn is sung all over the English-speaking world.

• Holy Rumpus: New partnership for CMS pioneer mission programme

  Holy Rumpus will offer the CMS Certificate in Pioneer Mission and is for people looking to develop their understanding and practice of pioneering mission.

• Catholic Church in NSW loses 'Ellis defence' against child abuse claims

  Victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic clergy in New South Wales are now able to sue the Church after the abolition of the state's notorious 'Ellis defence'.

• Persecution of Christians is 'set to rise' in 2019

  Release said its partners support the view that persecution is rising and have warned the trend will continue into 2019.

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  Bishop of Lichfield makes discipleship, vocation and evangelism the priority for 2019

  Bishop Michael Ipgrave admitted it was tempting to curl up and hibernate in the dead of winter, but he challenged the faithful to instead move out of their comfort zones to share the Good News of Christ.

• Pope Francis appeals for peace and unity in New Year's message

  Pope Francis has expressed his regret over a lack of unity around the world in his first message of the new year.

• Community is 'joy and blessing', says Archbishop of Canterbury in call for national unity

  The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged Britain to overcome the 'divisions' of recent years in a New Year sermon.

• Vatican spokesman Greg Burke and deputy in surprise resignations

  American Greg Burke said he was stepping down as director of the Vatican Press Office in order to allow the Pope to assemble a completely new communications team.

• Brexit chaos weighs heavy on minds of bishops at start of new year

  The Bishop of Burnley said he was praying for a 'new start' in British politics amid the upheaval over Brexit

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  Record numbers take part in bishop's Boxing Day pilgrimage

  The annual pilgrimage follows in the footsteps of 12th Century Cistercian monks who set off from Ripon Cathedral on 26 December, 1132, to found Fountains Abbey.

• Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas one year after Islamic State defeat

  Iraqi Christians quietly celebrated Christmas on Tuesday amid improved security

• Differences are not a danger, says Pope Francis in Christmas Day message

  Pope Francis has urged people to see their differences as a source of richness and not of danger in his Christmas message to the world.

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  God's love leaves no room for hatred or tribalism, says Archbishop of Canterbury

  The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged people to put aside their differences this Christmas and instead embrace God's language of love.

• Remember the poor and shun materialism, pope says on Christmas Eve

  Francis, 82 led a solemn service for nearly 10,000 people in St Peter's Basilica for his traditional Christmas Eve Mass.