Pope Benedict XVI has met for the first time with a Saudi Arabian monarch, the controversial King Abdullah. A carefully worded communique from the Vatican avoids an mention of the human rights issues that have caused outrage among campaigners.

Christian-Muslim relations and the rights of the minority Christian community are among the likely discussion points when Pope Benedict XVI meets with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah next week - after his controversial UK state visit.

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the world's 77 million Anglicans, has endorsed a strong statement against religiously sanctioned violence by Pope Benedict at an inter-faith peace conference in Naples this weekend.

Pope Benedict yesterday received the first Mennonite World Conference delegation ever to come to Rome, following the Anabaptists' split from the Catholic Church in the 16th century. He especially commended their their long standing witness to peace.

In his audiences and public liturgical duties this week, Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, has highlighted the concerns of World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Catholic and Orthodox Christians are moving towards unity, the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics declared at the end of his recent general audience in St Peter's Square, Rome. The Pope announced an international commission on the issue.

At his appearance to say prayers at the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, Pope Benedict has spoken of the 'blind selfishness' that can result from an over-preoccupation with money. He says capitalism is not the only valid economic system.

In a carefully-worded statement clear in its intent, the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics has urged the President of Sudan towards positive action in resolving the Darfur crisis, which has killed many thousands and displaced millions.

Evangelicals have enjoyed a major influence on the Bush administration, but John Dear points out that this does not mean they have a basic commitment to Jesus' way of peace.

A new document authorised by Pope Benedict XVI restating Roman Catholic views that Protestant denominations are not churches "in the proper sense" has been criticised as setting back the quest for Christian unity.