Pope Benedict XVI used his Easter Sunday message to urge the Syrian regime to heed international calls to end bloodshed and commit to dialogue.

Thousands of Christians have gathered near Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher for Easter Saturday and marched in processions, taking turns to pray in the site where they believe Jesus was killed and buried.

Church leaders, politicians and believers across the country began celebrations of Russian Orthodox Christmas on the eve of the holiday Friday, with President Vladimir Putin sending greetings to the faithful.

Pope John Paul II has arrived in Malta for his first visit to the island in 11 years.

Pope John Paul II was today heading for Malta - a bastion of his own church - to close a journey that challenged the stamina of the frail pontiff amid momentous gestures for religious reconciliation with others.