After an abortive first attempt, Cyprus reached agreement with the IMF and the European Union on a €10 billion ($13 billion) bail-out. The controversial levy on insured bank deposits was ditched. Instead Cyprus agreed to wind down Laiki, its second-bigg… more »

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 76-year-old archbishop of Buenos Aires, was selected by the cardinals’ conclave in the Vatican as the new pope. Pope Francis is the first head of the Roman Catholic church to come from the Americas, and also the first Jesuit.… more »

Pope Benedict XVI stunned the Catholic church by announcing that he would step down on February 28th, the first papal resignation in 600 years. In a statement read out in Latin, the 85-year-old pontiff said he had decided to leave office because of his… more »

The year saw opposition to the Assad regime in Syria escalate into full civil war. In the worst atrocity of the conflict so far, around 400 people were massacred in the opposition town of Daraya. The fighting reached Damascus, the capital, and the rebel… more »

Catholicism is hollowing out in its traditional European strongholds. But signs of intriguing new life are springing up at its periphery Read article more »

New data on the second-biggest faith Read article more »