China is to publish online details of legal religious venues, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday, apparently in an effort to "root out illegal religious activities".
"Following the Gospel is certainly a demanding path," but Christians are given peace by God in all circumstances, the Pope said today during his annual St Stephen's Day address.
With the holiday celebrations just a few days away, Egyptian Christian churches are on high alert against possible attacks from Islamic extremist groups.
China must crack down "harshly and quickly" on cases involving terror attacks, national security and social stability in its restive region of Xinjiang, the country's top judge said, in comments likely to further worry rights groups and exiles.
The Prince of Wales described the persecution of Christians in Iraq as "blasphemy" on the part of the Islamist militant group Islamic State in an address to members of the Chaldean church in London today.