Vatican theologians have attributed a second miracle to pope John Paul II, putting him firmly on the path to sainthood, the ANSA news agency reported Tuesday. Quoting unnamed Vatican sources, ANSA said the new miracle would "amaze the world", while Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi would not confirm or deny the report when contacted by AFP. The long road to sainthood requires two "confirmed" miracles, the first of which is necessary for beatification, a hurdle the Polish pope cleared just six months after his death in 2005.

By Tom Heneghan and Tom Miles PARIS/GENEVA (Reuters) - Senior Roman Catholic and Lutheran officials announced on Monday they would mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 as a shared event rather than highlight the clash that split Western Christianity. The Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) presented a report in Geneva admitting both were guilty of harming Christian unity in the past and describing a growing consensus between the two churches in recent decades.

Pope Francis received the head of the Anglican Church, Justin Welby, for the first time on Friday, praising him for his stance against gay marriage and calling for united action to defend the poor. Francis urged Welby to continue proclaiming "the importance of the institution of the family built on marriage, a value that you yourself have had occasion to recall recently." Former oil executive Welby, who was enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury in March just weeks after Francis was elected pope, earlier this month tore into the British government's gay marriage bill.

By Amanda Orr HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Southern Baptist Convention on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to voice opposition to the Boy Scouts of America decision to admit gay members, saying that homosexual conduct is contrary to a scout's oath to do his duty to God.