Magistrate Belinda Wallington will make her ruling on May 1 on whether Pell will stand trial.

Starbucks, which once urged its employees to start conversations about race with customers, found itself through the looking glass: under fire for its treatment of black people.

Immigration officials have accused the nun, who has worked in rural communities for 27 years, of being an "undesirable alien" for joining protest rallies and visiting political prisoners.

Highlighting the plight of a seriously ill toddler in Great Britain and a severely brain-damaged man in France, Pope Francis called for greater respect for every patient's life and dignity.

“God is the one who says who goes to heaven,” the pope explained.

Roman Catholic priests in eastern Congo are vowing to continue their work in parishes, schools and clinics after the murder of one of their brethren this week in the largely lawless region.