Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow sent Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI a congratulatory Christmas Day message wishing him well.

By MANSUR MIROVALEV MOSCOW - The outgoing leader of Russia's Catholics said Wednesday the problems souring Vatican relations with the Russian Orthodox Church should be overcome so the two faiths could work together to advance the word of Christ.

By Terry Pluto, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio Jul. 14--When I mentioned to some people that I was going to try to write something about Pope Benedict's comments about the church, a few winced. One said, "Good luck.

By Alonso Soto HARVARD, Ill. (Reuters) - Roy Peraza, a Cuban-born pastor in one of America's fastest-growing Protestant denominations, trolls this sleepy town's supermarkets and restaurants in search of new Latino converts.