When Kurt and Anna-Maria Spennesberger heard the news about former pope Benedict XVI's death, they immediately got into their car and drove 200 kilometres to the former
pontiff's southern German birth town Marktl.
In the coming 12 months, hundreds of events will take place to commemorate the reformer Martin Luther, hoping to bring the two Christian Churches closer together.
Retired pope Benedict XVI fell in love during his student days in Germany and struggled with the idea of celibacy, said the author of a new book to be published Friday.
Thousands of exhausted refugees received a hero's welcome Sunday as they streamed into Germany and other European nations, but Austria warned the emergency measures are only "temporary" as the EU struggles to establish a united response to the crisis.
Cardinal Reinhard Marx, head of the Catholic Church in Germany, has warned his flock not to push the Church to go against its traditional teaching about homosexuality and divorce after they called for change.
The German Children Protection Society (DKSB) has condemned remarks by Pope Francis after the Catholic leader said it was okay to hit children as long as their dignity remained intact.
The Association of German Rabbit Breeders (ZDRK) said on Tuesday that Pope Francis' injunction to Catholics not to breed "like rabbits" was inaccurate.
A member of activist group Femen will stand before a court in Cologne on Wednesday after jumping topless onto the altar of the city's famous cathedral.
The Vatican on Friday said the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, who has made controversial comments about Muslims, was stepping down from his duties as archbishop after reaching retirement age.
A big-spending Catholic bishop was called before Pope Francis on Monday, as speculation grows over whether he will be forced to resign for his high-roller lifestyle.
An outspoken German TV presenter said he was "speechless" with fury after he claimed Facebook censored his status updates criticising the social values of the Catholic church and Pope Francis himself.
Germany's political leaders and Catholic faithful voiced confidence in the Church's new pontiff on Thursday, although some German bishops admitted they were surprised by the conclave's decision to pick Pope Francis.
Berlin's Roman Catholic Archdiocese has condemned a German charlatan for masquerading as a bishop and sneaking into the Vatican to fraternize with cardinals as they prepare to choose a new pope.
Catholics all over Germany are marking Benedict XVI's last day as pope with an outpouring of national pride, including some vowing that “Bavaria is still the pope.” Meanwhile, the country's clergy has rallied behind the outgoing pontiff.
Ben Knight brings you the The Local's Weekly News Podcast, featuring a weary pope, horsey lasagne, and the return of one famous polar bear (definitely not stuffed).
Mercedes-Benz presented Pope Benedict XVI with a sleek, ecologically-friendly "Popemobile" on Friday which has been vamped up with the latest gadgets for maximum comfort, the Vatican said.
A Catholic bishop has called for a blasphemy law in Germany, saying all religions deserved legal protection from attack in order to preserve human dignity.
Pope Benedict was obviously not amused when he saw himself pictured with yellow stains down his cassock on a German satire magazine in a nod to the Vatican leaks scandal. He has taken legal action to stop publication.
Pope Benedict XVI on Monday appointed German archbishop Ludwig Müller, a conservative theologian with liberal leanings, to head up the Vatican's powerful orthodoxy watchdog.
German priests are rebelling over accepting remarried divorcees into their churches, forcing a confrontation between their bishop and Catholic authorities.
A flat near Bonn said to have been the former residence of Pope Benedict XVI is up for rent. Despite this distinction, there has been a surprising lack of interest from Catholic pilgrims in the property, according to a newspaper report.
Pope Benedict XVI will not face charges for not wearing a seat belt in his popemobile during a visit to Germany, after officials confirmed normal traffic rules had been suspended for him.
