Christianity

Rabbis have forbidden approaching what is considered the site of the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem, but one right-wing religious activist is pushing to overturn centuries of tradition as tensions increase around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. 

Every night this winter, churches in one of Queensland's coldest cities are on a rotating roster, providing shelter and hot meals for "guests" in need, while forging lasting bonds.

While a growing number of Australians are moving away from organised religion, some people like Samantha Raabe are bucking the trend and finding a new faith later in life.

In the time since I have disappeared from our television screens, I have spent more time back here in this valley, in the land of my ancestors.

Pope Leo criticised the emergence of nationalist political movements around the globe on Sunday, calling them "unfortunate" — without naming a specific country or national leader.

Life seemed picture perfect for Lauren Flanigan and her young daughter, Sophia Rose — until the day the three-year-old with the beaming smile was allegedly murdered by her mother. It's left a family shattered and a community reeling.

Tonga is so serious about the Sabbath that it banned most Sunday trading. Now the king and police are urging people to keep the day holy.

Sydney's Wayside Chapel has been welcoming "rebels" for decades. But its legacy isn't just about inclusivity and love, it's about radical social change.

It is the first time an Australian prime minister has had a private audience with the head of the Catholic Church since 2008. 

More than 200,000 people have been flocking to St Peter's Square for the inauguration, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The contrast of Pope Leo and Donald Trump goes far beyond Christendom or American economic power; it goes to what we want from our leaders, who we will follow, who we will heed, and where our future lies.

When Greg Thompson became bishop of Newcastle, he refused to turn a blind eye to the decades-long child sex abuse scandals in the diocese. For him, it was personal. He was himself a sexual abuse survivor. But speaking out came at huge cost. 

The youngest cardinal to vote in the conclave has described his experience of electing the new pope. 

Cardinals are entering the second day of electing a new pope after the first conclave failed to find a winner on Wednesday.

There are many names circulating for who may succeed Pope Francis, but history shows the rumoured frontrunners are rarely picked. Here's a look at some of the candidates who stand out for different reasons.

In a corner of central Rome, a family tailor shop has been hand-stitching the robes worn by the last eight popes over the past 200 years, and they're ready for the busy task of preparing outfits for Pope Francis's successor.

In its 800-year history, a conclave has never been this diverse. How will this changing face of Catholicism impact the result of the papal vote?

A fictional scenario from a film raises a real question: Could the new pope come from a country where Catholics are not the majority?

The conclave will be a "fight for the soul of the Catholic Church" between those who saw promise in the modernising changes Pope Francis made and those "who hated him for it". 

Cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church starting from May 7, the Vatican has confirmed.