Christianity in the 21st century

File:Angra 520 Anos, Santa Missa Campal 07.jpg celebrating Mass in Brazil, 2022]]

With the election of Pope Benedict XVI, there was decentralized beatifications and reverted a decision of John Paul II regarding papal elections.Moto Proprio, De Aliquibus Mutationibus, June 11, 2007 Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many Western countries. He taught the importance of both the Catholic Church and an understanding of God's redemptive love.{{cite web |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,635185276,00.html |title=Benedict's encyclical offers hope for world |work=Deseret News |first=Jerry Earl |last=Johnston |date=18 February 2006 |access-date=12 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092429/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143%2C635185276%2C00.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 }} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120307235713/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/635185276/Benedicts-encyclical-offers-hope-for-world.html WebCitation archive] Pope Benedict also revived a number of traditions, including elevating the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.Gledhill, Ruth [https://web.archive.org/web/20070218185841/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article667813.ece "Pope set to bring back Latin Mass that divided the Church"]The Times 11 October 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2010 He strengthened the relationship between the Catholic Church and art, promoted the use of Latin,{{cite news|author=Tom Kington in Rome |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/31/pope-benedict-latin-academy |title=Pope Benedict to open new Latin academy in the Vatican |work=The Guardian |access-date=12 March 2013 |location=London |date=31 August 2012}} and reintroduced traditional papal garments, for which reason he was called "the pope of aesthetics".{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Charlotte |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-allen-pope-fashion-20130217,0,7223931.story |title=Pope Benedict XVI, the pontiff of aesthetics |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=17 February 2013 |date=17 February 2013}}

Major lawsuits emerged in 2001, during the pontificate of John Paul II, claiming that priests had sexually abused minors.Bruni, A Gospel of Shame (2002), p. 336 As a cardinal, Benedict convinced John Paul II to put his Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in charge of all investigations and policies surrounding sexual abuse in order to combat such abuse more efficiently.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7086738.ece |work=The Times |location=London |title=John Paul 'ignored abuse of 2,000 boys' |first1=Bojan |last1=Pancevski |first2=John |last2=Follain |date=4 April 2010 |access-date=22 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531183440/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7086738.ece |archive-date=31 May 2010 }} In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI removed Legion of Christ founder Marcial Maciel from active ministry based on the results of an investigation that he had started while head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, before his election as Pope in April 2005. Maciel was ordered "to conduct a reserved life of prayer and penance, renouncing every public ministry."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8656085.stm |title=Catholic order to be overhauled after founder's abuse |work=BBC News |date=2010-05-01 |access-date=2010-09-19}} As pope, Benedict defrocked at least 400 priests.{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Trymaine |title=Pope Benedict defrocked 400 priests |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/pope-benedict-defrocked-400-priests |website=MSNBC |date=17 January 2014 |access-date=16 October 2018}}

In July 2007, Pope Benedict issued the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, allowing priests to celebrate the Tridentine Mass without first having to receive permission from their local ordinary.Summorum Pontificum ([https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20070707_summorum-pontificum_en.html English translation]). 7 July 2007. Accessed=27 March 2015[https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20070707_lettera-vescovi_en.html English text on website of the Holy See] The Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, which was consulted by Pope Benedict during the process, said in a statement that it "extends its deep gratitude to (Pope Benedict) for this great spiritual benefit" and "rejoices to see the Church thus regain her liturgical Tradition, and give the possibility of a free access to the treasure of the Traditional Mass ... (for those) who had so far been deprived of it."[http://www.fsspx.org/eng/index.html Press Release from the General Superior of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219085433/http://fsspx.org/eng/index.html |date=2009-02-19 }} Press release, July 7, 2007. The Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL) attacked the motu proprio, because the text of the Good Friday Prayer for the Jews in the 1962 Missal includes a request to God to "lift the veil" from Jewish hearts and to show mercy, according to one translation, "even to the Jews" (or "also to the Jews"), and refers to "the blindness of that people" (to Christ).[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20070710201311/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703900.htm ADL head calls pope's Tridentine Mass letter a "theological setback". Catholic News Service] In reply to such criticisms, Dr John Newton, editor of Baronius Press, pointed out that the prayer draws heavily on 2 Corinthians chapters 3 and 4, and the invocation for God to "lift the veil from their hearts" is a direct quote from {{bibleverse|2|Cor|3:15}}.Catholic Herald, May 11, 2007 These guidelines remained in place until July 2021, when Pope Francis abrogated Summorum Pontificum.{{cite news |title=Pope makes extraordinary changes for Extraordinary Form |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/extraordinary-changes-for-extraordinary |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=The Pillar |date=16 July 2021}}

In October 2009, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced Pope Benedict XVI's intention to create a new type of ecclesiastical structure, called a personal ordinariate, for groups of Anglicans entering into full communion with the see of Rome.{{Cite news

|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/17437/pope-benedict-approves-structure-for-admitting-large-groups-of-anglicans-into-catholic-church

|title=Pope Benedict approves structure for admitting large groups of Anglicans into Catholic Church

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|access-date=2009-10-22

|archive-date=2009-11-24

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}} This created structures for former Anglicans within the Catholic Church independent of existing Latin Church dioceses. The personal ordinariates utilize the Anglican Use for their liturgy, a use of the Roman Rite modified with Anglican elements; the ordinariates also retain elements of Anglican spirituality and religious practice, including married priests but not married bishops. Anglicanorum coetibus was issued on 4 November 2009. "The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter is equivalent to a diocese, created by the Vatican in 2012 for people nurtured in the Anglican tradition who wish to become Catholic."{{Cite web|url=https://ordinariate.net/about|title=Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter}}

With support from Pope Benedict, in November 2011, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, established a "Liturgical art and sacred music commission" which will be responsible for evaluating both new construction and renovation projects as well as music used during the celebration of Mass to ensure that they comply with church guidelines.[http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/inquiries-and-interviews/detail/articolo/architettura-architecture-arquitectura-10121/ La Stampa – Vatican Insider: "New Vatican commission cracks down on church architecture"] November 21, 2011 Previously, it was common for churches to be renovated in a way critics often described as a "wreckovation."

On 28 February 2013, Pope Benedict XVI resigned from his ministry as pope. Benedict's decision to step down{{NoteTag|Formally "renounce", from the Latin, "renuntiet" (cf. canon 332 §2, 1983 Code of Canon Law)}} as leader of the Catholic Church made him the first pope to relinquish the office since Gregory XII in 1415{{cite web | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/11/world/europe/pope-benedict-resignation/?hpt=hp_t1 | title=Pope Benedict to resign at the end of the month, Vatican says | publisher=CNN | date=11 February 2013 | access-date=11 February 2013 | last=Messia | first=Hada | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319014318/http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/11/world/europe/pope-benedict-resignation/?hpt=hp_t1 | archive-date=19 March 2013 | df=dmy-all }} (who did so in order to end the Western Schism), the first to do so on his own initiative since Celestine V in 1294,{{cite news|title = The Holy Father takes his leave|first = Raymond J.|last = de Souza|author-link = Raymond J. de Souza|url = http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/02/12/father-raymond-j-de-souza-on-the-pope-the-holy-father-takes-his-leave/|newspaper = The National Post|date = 12 February 2013|access-date = 12 February 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130411105316/http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/02/12/father-raymond-j-de-souza-on-the-pope-the-holy-father-takes-his-leave/|archive-date = 11 April 2013|df = dmy-all}}

File:5 luglio 2013 - incontro tra Papa Francesco e Papa Benedetto XVI - inaugurazione statua San Michele Arcangelo -.jpg

Elected in 2013, Pope Francis displayed a simpler and less formal approach to the office, choosing to reside in the Vatican guesthouse rather than the papal residence.{{cite news|last=Vallely|first=Paul|title=Pope Francis profile: Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a humble man who moved out of a palace into an apartment, cooks his own meals and travels by bus|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/pope-francis-profile-jorge-mario-bergoglio-a-humble-man-who-moved-out-of-a-palace-into-an-apartment-cooks-his-own-meals-and-travels-by-bus-8533450.html|access-date=4 June 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=14 March 2013}} Following the resignation of Benedict, Francis became the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/cardinal-walter-kasper-says-pope-francis-will-bring-new-life-to-vatican-ii_n_3076386.html Cardinal Walter Kasper Says Pope Francis Will Bring New Life To Vatican II]

On 18 June 2015, Francis released his encyclical Laudato si', in which he critiqued consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action."{{cite news| first1 = Jim | last1 = Yardley | first2 = Laurie | last2 = Goodstein | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/world/europe/pope-francis-in-sweeping-encyclical-calls-for-swift-action-on-climate-change.html | title = Pope Francis, in Sweeping Encyclical, Calls for Swift Action on Climate Change | work = The New York Times | date = 18 June 2015}}

On 2 August 2018, it was announced that the Catechism of the Catholic Church would be revised to state that the Church teaches that "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person".{{cite web |title=New revision of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the death penalty – Rescriptum "ex Audentia SS.mi" |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/08/02/180802a.html |website=Summary of Bulletin |publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date=3 August 2018 |date=2 August 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-pope-death-penalty-inadmissible-20180802-story.html|title=Pope Francis changes Catholic teaching on death penalty, now 'inadmissible' in all circumstances|last=Winfield|first=Nicole|date=2 August 2018|website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2 August 2018}} A full letter to the bishops regarding the change stated that it was consistent with the previous teachings of the Catholic Church regarding the dignity of human life, and that it reflected how modern society had better prison systems with a goal of criminal rehabilitation that made the death penalty unnecessary for the protection of innocent people.{{cite web |title=Letter to the Bishops regarding the new revision of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the death penalty, from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/08/02/180802b.html |website=Summary of Bulletin |publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date=3 August 2018 |date=2 August 2018}}

In March 2020 all public masses were suspended in Vatican City and Italy due to the coronavirus pandemic. These suspensions began in late-February in the Archdioceses of Milan and Venice and were extended to the rest of the Italian peninsula on 8 March.{{cite news |last1=Mares |first1=Courtney |title=Diocese of Rome cancels all public Masses, announces day of fasting and prayer |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/43792/diocese-of-rome-cancels-all-public-masses-announces-day-of-fasting-and-prayer |access-date=12 March 2020 |work=Catholic News Agency |date=8 March 2020}} Setting an example for churches unable to celebrate public masses due to the lockdown, Pope Francis began livestreaming daily masses from his home on 9 March.{{cite news |title=Pope Francis' morning Mass broadcast live every day |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-daily-mass-casa-santa-marta-coronavirus.html |access-date=12 March 2020 |work=Vatican News |date=8 March 2020}} Outside Italy, masses in cities around the world were suspended in the days that followed.{{cite news |last1=Nerozzi |first1=Timothy |title=Japanese dioceses suspend Masses amid coronavirus epidemic |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/43757/japanese-dioceses-suspend-masses-amid-coronavirus-epidemic |access-date=13 March 2020 |work=Catholic News Agency |date=4 March 2020}}{{cite news |title=Do we have Mass? Coronavirus closures and dispensations in US dioceses |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/43847/do-we-have-mass-coronavirus-closures-and-dispensations-in-us-dioceses |access-date=16 March 2020 |work=Catholic News Agency}} At the height of the outbreak in Italy,{{cite news |title=Italy Coronavirus Map and Case Count |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/europe/italy-coronavirus-cases.html |work=The New York Times |date=22 April 2020 |access-date=24 May 2020}} on 27 March, Pope Francis imparted the Urbi et Orbi blessing, normally reserved for Christmas and Easter, from an empty Saint Peter's Square following a prayer for the health of all the world.{{cite news|date=22 March 2020|work=Holy See|title=Declaration of the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/22/200322b.html|access-date=23 March 2020}}.{{cite news |title=Read: Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi address on coronavirus and Jesus calming the storm |url=https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/27/read-pope-francis-urbi-et-orbi-address-coronavirus-and-jesus-calming-storm |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=America Magazine |date=27 March 2020}} For the prayer service, Francis brought the crucifix from San Marcello al Corso which had processed through the streets of Rome during a plague in 1522 and is believed to have led to miraculous curing.{{cite news |title=Miraculous crucifix moved to St. Peter's Square for Pope Francis' 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/43984/miraculous-crucifix-moved-to-st-peters-square-for-pope-francis-urbi-et-orbi-blessing |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=Catholic News Agency |date=25 March 2020}} The prayer service concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, as church bells were rung and sirens blared across Rome.{{cite news|date=27 March 2020|work=Holy See|title=Extraordinary moment of prayer presided at by the Holy Father before Saint Peter's Basilica|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/27/200327e.html|access-date=27 March 2020}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/urbi-et-orbi-pope-coronavirus-prayer-blessing.html|title=Pope at Urbi et orbi: Full text of his meditation - Vatican News|date=2020-03-27|website=vaticannews.va|language=en}} The spread of COVID-19 soon slowed in Italy and public masses were allowed to resume on 18 May, with Pope Francis celebrating his last daily live-stream mass and first public mass since the lockdown on the centenary of the birth of Pope John Paul II.{{cite news |last1=Tornielli |first1=Andrea |title=Pope to celebrate Mass for JPII centenary on 18 May, cease live-broadcast of daily Mass |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-05/pope-francis-jpii-centenary-last-santa-marta-mass-live.html |access-date=24 May 2020 |work=Vatican News |date=12 May 2020}}

In March 2022, Francis promulgated the apostolic constitution Praedicate evangelium, reforming the Roman Curia and allowing lay Catholics to lead dicasteries.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-19 |title=Pope Francis promulgates new Apostolic Constitution of Roman Curia |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-francis-apostolic-constitution-jpraedicate-evangelium.html |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=Vatican News |language=en}}

File:Pope Leo XIV on the loggia.jpg

Francis died on 21 April 2025, the morning after greeting people in St. Peter's Square for Easter Sunday. His successor Pope Leo XIV was elected by the College of Cardinals on 8 May 2025.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Christopher |date=8 May 2025|title=Habemus Papam: Leo XIV is 1st American pope chosen to lead Catholic Church |url=https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/habemus-papam-leo-xiv-1st-american-pope-chosen-lead-catholic-church |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=National Catholic Reporter}}

File:St._Nicholas_Chapel_October_1st_2022.jpg in New York City, rebuilt after the original church was destroyed in the September 11 attacks]]

The Pan-Orthodox Council, officially styled the Holy and Great Synod, opened at Crete, on 19 June 2016. The 10 Churches that sent representatives to Crete were the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Orthodox Churches of Alexandria, Jerusalem, Serbia, Romania, Greece, Poland, Albania, Cyprus and the Czech Lands and Slovakia. Of the 14 national Orthodox churches, four did not attend the event, including the Russian Orthodox Church, the Georgian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches, as well as the Orthodox Church of Antioch. The Council concluded on 26 June 2016, the Sunday of All Saints, with a Patriarchal Concelebration.

File:Batholomew_handing_tomos_to_Epiphanius.jpg

{{Main|Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine|2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism|Reactions of the Eastern Orthodox churches to the 2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism}}

On 11 October 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople announced it would grant autocephaly to the "Church of Ukraine" thus separating it from the canonical jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.patriarchate.org/-/communiq-1|title=Announcement (11/10/2018). – Announcements – The Ecumenical Patriarchate|date=11 October 2018|website=patriarchate.org |access-date=2018-10-30}} Four days later, the Moscow Patriarchate broke the communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople over the latter's endorsement of the Ukrainian Orthodox church's autocephaly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-10-15/russian-orthodox-church-breaks-ties-with-orthodoxys-leader|title=Russian Orthodox Church Breaks Ties With Orthodoxy's Leader|date=15 October 2018|website=U.S. News|access-date=14 March 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/world/europe/russia-orthodox-church.html|title=Russia Takes Further Step Toward Major Schism in Orthodox Church|last=MacFarquhar|first=Neil|date=2018-10-15|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-26|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} The decision was made following a meeting of the Russian Holy Synod in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Metropolitan Hilarion announced that the Moscow Patriarchate had taken the decision to "rupture full communion with the Constantinople Patriarchate",{{cite web | url =https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-orthodox-church-to-break-with-patriarchate-of-constantinople/29545003.html |title=Russian Orthodox Church Breaks Ties With Constantinople Patriarchate |publisher=RFERL| access-date =15 October 2018}} meaning that priests from the two churches will not be able to serve together while worshippers of one cannot take communion in the other.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45870939|title=Russian Church breaks with Orthodox body|date=2018-10-16|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-10-16|language=en-GB}}

Two months later, on 15 December 2018, a unification council was convoked by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople at St Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, during which the Kyiv Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and parts of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) were united into a single church: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/15/world/europe/russia-ukraine-orthodox-church.html|title=Amid Russia Tensions, Ukraine Moves Toward Separate Church|last=MacFarquhar|first=Neil|date=December 15, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 December 2018|issn=0362-4331}} Metropolitan Epiphanius was elected the first Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine of the newly unified Ukrainian church.{{Cite web|url=https://www.Kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/unification-council-elects-head-of-ukrainian-orthodox-church.html|title=Unification Council elects head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church|date=December 15, 2018|website=Kyiv Post|access-date=15 December 2018}} Patriarch Kirill of Moscow denounced the new Ukrainian Church as "a union of two schismatic groups."{{cite news |title=Ukraine's newly independent church holds 'historic' first service |url=https://news.yahoo.com/ukraines-newly-independent-church-holds-historic-first-115634446.html |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=AFP |publisher=Yahoo |date=7 January 2019}}

On 5 January 2019, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed a tomos officially granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The tomos was signed at St. George's Cathedral in the presence of Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, and was presented to Metropolitan Epiphanius to be brought to Kyiv in time for Christmas, the first liturgy celebrated by the united Ukrainian Orthodox Church.{{cite news |title=Ukraine Orthodox Church granted independence from Russian Church |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46768270 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=BBC News |date=5 January 2019}}

On 30 May 2019, Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations of the ROC, said the ROC was aware of the efforts of the Church of Cyprus primate, Chrysostomos II, and added that "to some extent [Chrysostomos'] actions can be considered in line with the ROC proposal (...) He has consistently held talks with representatives from various local Churches, telling of the need to resolve the problem" Legoyda also said the ROC "has repeatedly stressed the desire and the need for a pan-Orthodox decision on this issue because it cannot be resolved unilaterally"{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=15147|title=Constantinople cannot solve complicated religious situation in Ukraine – Russian Orthodox Church|date=30 May 2019|website=www.interfax-religion.com|access-date=2019-05-31}}

On 12 October 2019, the Orthodox Church of Greece, headed by the Archbishop Ieronymos II recognized the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, stating that "the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has the right to granting autocephalies"{{Cite web|url=https://www.eleftherostypos.gr/ellada/472832-ektakto-i-ekklisia-tis-ellados-anagnorise-tin-ekklisia-tis-oykranias/|title=Η Εκκλησία της Ελλάδος αναγνώρισε την Αυτοκέφαλη Εκκλησία της Ουκρανίας|date=12 October 2019|website=eleftherostypos.gr|publisher=Eleutheros Typos|trans-title=The Church of Greece recognized the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine|access-date=12 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/the-church-of-greece-has-recognized-the-autocephalous-church-of-ukraine/|title=The Church of Greece has recognized the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine (upd)|date=2019-10-12|website=Orthodox Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/orthodox_world/77425/|title=Urgent: Greek Orthodox Church recognizes autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine|date=12 October 2019|website=risu.org.ua|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012162214/https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/orthodox_world/77425/|archive-date=2019-10-12|access-date=2019-10-12}}

On 8 November 2019, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, ranked second in the diptych of the Eastern Orthodox Churches of the world, officially announced it had recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria formally recognised the Autocephaly granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine earlier that year.{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/the-patriarchate-of-alexandria-recognizes-the-orthodox-church-of-ukraine/|title=The Patriarchate of Alexandria recognizes the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine (upd)|date=2019-11-08|website=Orthodox Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/letter-sent-by-patriarch-theodore-to-hierarchs-on-recognition-of-ukrainian-autocephaly/|title=Letter sent by Patriarch Theodore to hierarchs on recognition of Ukrainian autocephaly|date=2019-11-08|website=Orthodox Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-08}}

On 24 October 2020, the primate of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, commemorated Epiphanius of Ukraine during the Divine Liturgy, thus recognising the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-24|title=Archbishop of Cyprus commemorates Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv for first time (upd)|url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-cyprus-commemorates-metropolitan-epifaniy-of-kyiv-for-first-time/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Orthodox Times|language=en-US}}

In early July 2020, the Turkish Council of State annulled the Cabinet's 1934 decision to establish the museum, revoking the monument's status, and a subsequent decree by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ordered the reclassification of Hagia Sophia as a mosque.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-10|title=Presidential Decree on the opening of Hagia Sophia to worship promulgated on the Official Gazette|url=http://wt.iletisim.gov.tr/english/haberler/detay/presidential-decree-on-the-opening-of-hagia-sophia-to-worship-promulgated-on-the-official-gazette-of-the-republic-of-turkey/|access-date=2020-07-17|work=Presidency of the Republic of Turkey: Directorate of Communications|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Gall|first1=Carlotta|date=10 July 2020|title=Erdogan Signs Decree Allowing Hagia Sophia to Be Used as a Mosque Again|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/10/world/europe/hagia-sophia-mosque-turkey.html|website=The New York Times}}{{cite news|last1=Dal|first1=Aylin|last2=Karadag|first2=Kemal|date=10 July 2020|title=Turkey: Court strikes down Hagia Sophia museum decree|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-court-strikes-down-hagia-sophia-museum-decree/1906171|access-date=2020-07-17|website=Anadolu Agency}} The 1934 decree was ruled to be unlawful under both Ottoman and Turkish law as Hagia Sophia's waqf, endowed by Sultan Mehmed, had designated the site a mosque; proponents of the decision argued the Hagia Sophia was the personal property of the sultan.{{cite news|date=2020-07-10|title=Turkey's Erdogan says Hagia Sophia becomes mosque after court ruling|work=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/10/turkeys-erdogan-says-hagia-sophia-becomes-mosque-after-court-ruling.html|access-date=2020-07-24}}{{Cite news|date=2020-07-11|title=Turning Hagia Sophia into museum violated will of its endower, Mehmed the Conquerer, Turkish court says|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/turning-hagia-sophia-into-museum-violated-will-of-its-endower-mehmed-the-conquerer-turkish-court-says/news|access-date=2020-07-17|website=Daily Sabah|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2020-07-10|title=Turkey's president formally makes Hagia Sophia a mosque|url=https://apnews.com/4bc9aeea3f21e438187a6c2b76c52aa0|access-date=2020-07-17|website=AP NEWS}} This redesignation is controversial, invoking condemnation from the Turkish opposition, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, UNESCO, the World Council of Churches, the International Association of Byzantine Studies, and many international leaders.{{cite news|date=10 July 2020|title=World reacts to Turkey reconverting Hagia Sophia into a mosque|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/world-reacts-turkey-reconverting-hagia-sophia-mosque-200710135637861.html|access-date=10 July 2020|work=Al Jazeera|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Byzantine News, Issue 33, July 2020|url=https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?u=719696e03a73ee3361188422f&id=7ec7740295|access-date=2020-07-25|website=us17.campaign-archive.com}}

In November 2019, the Turkish Council of State, Turkey's highest administrative court, ordered that Chora Church was to be reconverted to a mosque.{{cite web |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/court-ruling-converting-turkish-museum-to-mosque-could-set-precedent-for-hagia-sophia |title=Court Ruling Converting Turkish Museum to Mosque Could Set Precedent for Hagia Sophia |last=Yackley |first=Ayla |date=3 December 2019 |publisher=The Art Newspaper |access-date=9 December 2019}} In August 2020, its status changed to a mosque.{{cite web |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-converts-kariye-museum-into-mosque-157585 |title=Turkey converts Kariye Museum into mosque |date=21 August 2020 |publisher= Hürriyet Daily News website |access-date=21 August 2020}} The move to convert Chora Church into a mosque was condemned by the Greek Foreign Ministry and Christians.{{cite web |last1=Casper |first1=Jayson |title=Turkey Turns Another Historic Church into a Mosque |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/august/turkey-chora-church-mosque-kariye-museum-hagia-sophia-istan.html |publisher=Christianity Today |access-date=22 August 2020 |language=en |date=21 August 2020}} This caused a sharp rebuke by Turkey.{{cite web|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-slams-greece-over-statement-on-conversion-of-kariye-museum-to-mosque-157599|title=Turkey slams Greece over statement on conversion of Kariye Museum to mosque|date=22 August 2020|publisher= Hürriyet Daily News website|access-date=24 August 2020}}

The President of North Macedonia expressed his hope and expectation for a final settlement of the administrative status of his country's church in the near future through the granting of an Autocephaly Tomos by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stressing that the completion of the autocephaly of the church of North Macedonia is a top national interest. The Holy and Sacred Synod of Constantinople convened Monday May 9, 2022, under the chairmanship of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and discussed extensively the ecclesiastical matter of Skopje. Having assessed in its final stage the petition of appeal of that Church to the Mother Church, along with the repeated pleas of the State of North Macedonia, the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced that it welcomes in Eucharistic communion "the hierarchy, clergy, and people of this Church under Archbishop Stefan." It makes clear that it excludes the term "Macedonian" and any other derivative of the word "Macedonia", and recognizes the name of the Church as "Ohrid". Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew clarified that it was up to the Church of Serbia to settle the administrative issues between it and the Church in North Macedonia. He promises to continue to be interested in the progress and stability of the Ohrid ecclesiastical entity.{{cite web |url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/phanar-yes-to-the-recognition-no-to-macedonia-for-the-archdiocese-of-ohrid/ |title=Phanar: Yes to the recognition, no to "Macedonia" for the Archdiocese of Ohrid |date=9 May 2022 |publisher= Orthodox Times |access-date=9 May 2022}}

The Serbian Orthodox Church accepted the request of the Church of North Macedonia to acquire autocephaly. On May 24, 2022, the Patriarch of Serbia and the Archbishop of Ohrid co-officiated the Divine Liturgy for the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius at the Cathedral of Saint Clement of Ohrid in Skopje.

File:Mars Hill Church, Ballard location, worship band stage.jpg movement, closed in 2015]]

Postmodern Christianity has influenced the emerging church movement, with proponents challenging the mainstream Christianity on issues such as: institutional structures, systematic theology, propositional teaching methods, a perceived preoccupation with buildings, an attractional understanding of mission, professional clergy, and a perceived preoccupation with the political process and unhelpful jargon ("Christian-ese").{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Simon|title=Emerging Worship|url=http://www.simonperry.org.uk/#/emerging-worship/4537335309|access-date=2012-06-27}} Globally, megachurches are a significant development in Protestant Christianity.Anne C. Loveland, Otis B. Wheeler, From Meetinghouse to Megachurch: A Material and Cultural History, University of Missouri Press, USA, 2003, p. 3 In the United States, the phenomenon has more than quadrupled in the past two decades.{{cite web|url=http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=tflynn_26_5|title=Redirect|website=www.SecularHumanism.org|access-date=August 29, 2017|archive-date=June 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619065320/http://secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=tflynn_26_5|url-status=dead}} It has since spread worldwide. In 2007, five of the ten largest Protestant churches were in South Korea.{{cite news |title=O come all ye faithful |url=http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10015239&CFID=25385374 |work=Special Report on Religion and Public Life |publisher=The Economist |page=6 |date=November 3, 2007 |access-date=November 5, 2007 }} The largest megachurch in the United States is Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas with more than 40,000 members every weekend and the current largest megachurch in the world is South Korea's Yoido Full Gospel Church, an Assemblies of God church, with more than 830,000 members as of 2007.{{Cite web | date=June 26, 2009 | url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/06/26/americas-biggest-megachurches-business-megachurches_slide_2.html | title=In Pictures: America's 10 Biggest Megachurches | work=Forbes }}

Mark Driscoll, a leader in the emerging church movement, had more than 12,000 followers at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington before controversy led to Driscoll's resignation in 2014 and Mars Hill's dissolution.{{Cite news|url = http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024485113_marshillxml.html|title = More trouble for Mars Hill: cutting jobs, merging churches|last = Welch|first = Craig|date = September 7, 2014|work = Seattle Times|access-date = September 8, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://christianpost.com/news/rick-warren-tells-mars-hill-congregation-on-its-final-sunday-dont-be-bitter--131778/| title=Rick Warren Tells Mars Hill Congregation On Its Final Sunday: Don't Be Bitter| date=29 December 2014}} Like other churches in the emerging church movement, Mars Hill combined alternative worship with Calvinist theology. In 2015, not without controversy, a video featuring Driscoll was featured at a Hillsong Church conference in Sydney, Australia.{{cite news|title=Hillsong Church gives platform for 'penis house' preacher Mark Driscol|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/hillsong-church-gives-platform-for-penis-house-preacher-mark-driscol/story-fnii5s3x-1227423319523|work=news.com.au|date=1 July 2015}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Hillsong Church is a megachurch, founded in 1983, that has grown to over 100,000 followers.{{cite web|title=2017 Annual Report|url=https://hillsong.com/policies/annual-report-australia/|access-date=21 May 2018}} Their 2013 song "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" was released and spent 61 weeks atop the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, longer than any other song.{{cite web|url = http://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/news/1997-kari-jobe-performs-oceans-with-hillsong-worship-on-outcry-tour|title = Kari Jobe Performs 'Oceans' With Hillsong Worship On Outcry Tour|author = Herb Longs|access-date = 29 June 2017|date = 26 April 2016|publisher = The Christian Beat}}

Some megachurches, including Lakewood{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2005-05-22/online-extra-meet-the-prosperity-preacher|title=Meet the Prosperity Preacher|quote=Osteen is also a leading proponent of what is sometimes called the 'prosperity gospel', which teaches that God wants people to prosper in all areas of their lives – including material success.|date=May 23, 2005|work=Business Week|access-date=March 19, 2015}} and Yoido Full,{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Matthew |title=The biggest megachurch on Earth and South Korea's 'crisis of evangelism' |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-01/biggest-megachurch-earth-facing-crisis-evangelism |work=PRI |date=1 May 2017}} teach prosperity theology, a controversial doctrine seen as a heresy by most Christians. In 2007, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley opened a probe into the finances of six televangelism ministries that promoted prosperity theology: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Creflo Dollar Ministries, Benny Hinn Ministries, Bishop Eddie Long Ministries, Joyce Meyer Ministries, and Paula White Ministries. In January 2011, Grassley concluded his investigation stating that he believed self-regulation by religious organizations was preferable to government action.{{cite news | last = Goodstein | first = Laurie | date = January 7, 2011 | title = Tax-Exempt Ministries Avoid New Regulation | newspaper = The New York Times | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/us/politics/08churches.html | access-date = August 1, 2011}} Only the ministries led by Meyer and Hinn cooperated with Grassley's investigation. The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in 2017 featured prayers from two preachers known for advocating prosperity theology.{{cite news |last= Zoll |first= Rachel |title= Trump Inaugural to Include Prayers from Prosperity Preachers |newspaper=The Washington Post |date= December 28, 2016 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whitehouse/trump-inaugural-to-include-prayers-from-prosperity-preachers/2016/12/28/9830fbae-cd4f-11e6-85cd-e66532e35a44_story.html |access-date= December 29, 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161229150522/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whitehouse/trump-inaugural-to-include-prayers-from-prosperity-preachers/2016/12/28/9830fbae-cd4f-11e6-85cd-e66532e35a44_story.html |archive-date = December 29, 2016}} Paula White, one of Trump's spiritual advisers, gave the invocation.{{cite news |last=Posner |first=Sarah |title=Exploring the Nationalistic and Christian Right Influences On Trump |newspaper=NPR.org |date=February 2, 2017 |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/02/02/513041005/exploring-the-nationalistic-and-christian-right-influences-on-trump |access-date=February 5, 2017}}

The heterodox Shincheonji megachurch was the source of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, with most cases in South Korea being tied to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within the megachurch.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/south-korean-coronavirus-spike-linked-to-doomsday-sect-with-messianic-leader/2020/02/21/cd3e1220-54c2-11ea-9e47-59804be1dcfb_story.html|title=South Korean coronavirus spike linked to doomsday sect with messianic leader|first=Min Joo |last=Kim |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=21 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020}} On 1 March 2020, Seoul mayor Park Won-soon announced that the Seoul City Government had made a criminal complaint about the church's pastor Lee Man-hee, whom Shincheonji adherents believed to be the messiah, asking for an investigation into him and twelve others connected to the sect on charges of murder by negligence and violations of the Disease Control Act, citing their negligence in preventing an outbreak among their congregants and their refusal to cooperate with the government throughout the crisis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-murder/murder-probe-sought-for-south-korea-sect-at-center-of-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN20P07Q?il=0|title=Murder probe sought for South Korea sect at center of coronavirus outbreak|last=Cha|first=Sangmi|date=2 March 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=2 March 2020}}

{{See also|Anglican realignment|Global Anglican Future Conference}}

File:Holy Trinity Church, Raleigh, NC (27224707477).jpg, an ANCA church built in 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina]]

One month prior to the Lambeth Conference, the ten-yearly gathering of Anglican Communion bishops, a seven-day conference of conservative Anglican bishops and leaders held in Jerusalem from 22 to 29 June 2008 to address the growing controversy of the divisions in the Anglican Communion, the rise of secularism, as well as concerns with HIV/AIDS and poverty. As a result of the conference, the Jerusalem Declaration was issued and the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans was created. The conference participants also called for the creation of the Anglican Church in North America (ANCA), as an alternative to the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada, and declared that recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury is not necessary to Anglican identity.{{Cite web|url=http://gafcon.org/resources/jerusalem-statement/|title=The Complete Jerusalem Statement|website=Global Anglican Future {{!}} GAFCON|access-date=2016-05-07}} Follow-up conferences have been held every five years since 2008.

The conventions of four dioceses of the Episcopal Church voted in 2007 and 2008 to leave that church and to join the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America. Twelve other jurisdictions, serving an estimated 100,000 persons at that time, formed the ACNA on December 3–4, 2008. The ACNA is seeking official recognition as a province within the Anglican Communion.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-12-03-episcopal-split_N.htm | work=USA Today | title=Conservatives form rival group to Episcopal Church | date=December 4, 2008 | access-date=April 25, 2010}} The Anglican Church of Nigeria declared itself in communion with the new church in March 2009 and the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans recognized it as well.{{cite web|url=http://www.anglican-nig.org/main.php?k_j=12&d=308&p_t=main.php?k_j=17&c_c=1&c_y=2009 |title=RESOLUTION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE REGARDING THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA |website=Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion |access-date=February 20, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214083747/http://www.anglican-nig.org/main.php?k_j=12&d=308&p_t=main.php%3Fk_j%3D17&c_c=1&c_y=2009 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.anglican-nig.org/main.php?k_j=12&d=314&p_t=main.php?k_j=17&c_c=1&c_y=2009 |title=Communiqué from the GAFCON/FCA Primates' Council |date=April 16, 2009 |website=Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion |access-date=February 20, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214083751/http://www.anglican-nig.org/main.php?k_j=12&d=314&p_t=main.php%3Fk_j%3D17&c_c=1&c_y=2009 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 }} In June 2009, the Anglican Church of Uganda also declared itself in full communion with ACNA, and the Anglican Church of Sudan followed suit in December 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.acnaassembly.org/index2.php/acna/page/109 |title=Church of Uganda Declares itself in Full Communion with Anglican Church in North America |author=Church of Uganda |publisher=Anglican Church in North America |access-date=2009-09-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628104434/http://www.acnaassembly.org/index2.php/acna/page/109 |archive-date=2009-06-28 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/339|title=Advent Letter from Archbishop Duncan|access-date=2011-12-16}}

Two of the major events which contributed to the Anglican realignment were the 2002 decision of the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada to authorise a rite of blessing for same-sex unions, and the nomination of two openly gay priests in 2003 to become bishops. Jeffrey John, an openly gay priest with a long-time partner, was appointed to be the next Bishop of Reading in the Church of England and the General Convention of the Episcopal Church ratified the election of Gene Robinson, an openly[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7166964.stm BBC – US Church 'unfairly criticised' 01 Jan 2008] Bishop Schori "He [Robinson] is alone in being the only gay partnered bishop who's open about that status." (But see Otis Charles). gay non-celibateThe issue is less sexual orientation than sexual practice. Many conservative Anglicans disapprove of his being openly sexually active more than his sexual attractions as such. [http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gays.among.candidates.for.episcopal.bishops/23916.htm] man, as Bishop of New Hampshire. Jeffrey John ultimately declined the appointment due to pressure.

Like many other mainline Protestant denominations in the United States, the United Methodist Church has experienced significant membership losses in recent decades. By the opening of the 2008 General Conference, total UMC membership was estimated at 11.4 million, with about 7.9 million in the US and 3.5 million overseas. Significantly, about 20 percent of the conference delegates were from Africa, with Filipinos and Europeans making up another 10 percent.{{cite web |url=http://spectator.org/archives/2010/05/21/resenting-african-christianity |title=Resenting African Christianity |first=Mark |last=Tooley |publisher=The American Spectator |date=May 21, 2010 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128144602/http://spectator.org/archives/2010/05/21/resenting-african-christianity |archive-date=November 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} During the conference, the delegates voted to finalize the induction of the Methodist Church of the Ivory Coast and its 700,000 members into the denomination. One Congolese bishop has estimated that typical Sunday attendance of the UMC is higher in his country than in the entire United States.

Given current trends in the UMC, with overseas churches growing, especially in Africa, and US churches collectively losing about 1,000 members a week, American influence on the UMC is declining. In February 2019, a Special Session of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church was held in St. Louis, Missouri, to examine church teachings on human sexuality. While most American delegates at the General Conference supported the One Church Plan, a resolution that would have made the UMC open and affirming on LGBT issues, allowing individual conferences to allow same-sex marriage and openly gay clergy, the resolution failed. In its place, the Traditional Plan, opposed by most American delegates but supported by the African delegates, was passed by the conference. The Traditional Plan reaffirms traditional teachings on sexuality, penalizes UMC clergy who conduct same-sex marriages or ordain openly gay clergy beginning in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Kathy |last2=Hahn |first2=Heather |last3=Butler |first3=Joey |title=2019 General Conference passes Traditional Plan |url=https://www.umnews.org/en/news/gc2019-daily-feb-26 |access-date=5 March 2019 |work=United Methodist News |date=26 February 2019}}

Some conferences have allowed both same-sex marriage and openly gay clergy for years. One conference in the American Southwest has a lesbian bishop, Karen Oliveto. It is unknown how these clergy will be affected by the rule change. A similar General Conference decision in 1984 led to the early retirement of some openly gay clergy, including Paul Abels.{{cite news |last=Adamo |first=S. J. |date=May 11, 1984 |title=Gay Methodist Minister Picks Retirement |newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News |page=85}} Many progressive clergy have vowed to ignore the new rules if and when they come into effect, and many clergy and congregations are openly contemplating the idea of a schism within the United Methodist Church.{{cite news |last1=Lovett |first1=Ian |title=Rift Within Methodist Church Grows in Wake of Vote on Gay Marriage |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rift-within-methodist-church-grows-in-wake-of-vote-on-gay-marriage-11551652579 |access-date=5 March 2019 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=3 March 2019}}

With the Traditional Plan in place, the UMC increasingly saw schism as inevitable and so plans were drawn up to be voted upon at 2020 General Conference.{{cite news |last1=Hahn |first1=Heather |title=Foretaste of what's on the table at GC2020 |url=https://www.umnews.org/en/news/foretaste-of-whats-on-the-table-at-gc2020 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=United Methodist News |date=30 January 2020}} However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the General Conference was delayed to 2021.{{cite news |last1=Hahn |first1=Heather |title=Church leaders postpone 2020 General Conference |url=https://www.umnews.org/en/news/gc2020-venue-cancels-events-into-may |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=United Methodist News |date=18 March 2020}}

In April 2006, one person was killed and twelve injured in simultaneous knife attacks on three Coptic churches in Alexandria.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4909378.stm |title=Knife attacks on Egypt churches |publisher=BBC News |date=14 April 2006 |access-date=29 June 2011}}

In November 2008, several thousand Muslims attacked a Coptic church in a suburb of Cairo on the day of its inauguration, forcing 800 Coptic Christians to barricade themselves in.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In April 2009, two Christian men were shot dead and another was injured by Muslim men after an Easter vigil in the south of Egypt.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8007919.stm |title=BBC: Christians killed in Egypt feud |publisher=BBC News |date=20 April 2009 |access-date=29 June 2011}}

On 18 September 2009, a Muslim man named Osama Araban beheaded a Coptic Christian man in the village of Bagour, and injured 2 others in 2 different villages. He was arrested the following day.{{cite web|url=http://www.coptsunited.com/Details.php?I=6&A=52 |title=Muslim Man Beheads Christian in Egypt |publisher=Copts United |access-date=29 June 2011}}

On the eve of 7 January 2010, as worshippers were leaving the Mar-Yuhanna (St. John) church in Nag Hammadi after Eastern Christmas Mass(which finishes around midnight), three Muslim men in a car opened fire, killing 8 Christians and injuring another 10.{{cite web |url=http://www.wataninet.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?A=25557 |title=News article from Egyptian newspaper Watani |publisher=Wataninet.com |date=10 January 2010 |access-date=29 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722140628/http://www.wataninet.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?A=25557 |archive-date=22 July 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8444851.stm |title=News article |publisher=BBC News |date=7 January 2010 |access-date=29 June 2011}}

On New Year's Day 2011, just 20 minutes after midnight as Christians were leaving a Coptic Orthodox Church in the city of Alexandria after a New Year's Eve service a car bomb exploded in front of the Church killing more than 23 and injuring more than 75.{{cite news|author=Yolande Knell Middle East specialist |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12101748 |title=Egypt bomb kills 21 at Alexandria Coptic Church |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=1 January 2011 |access-date=29 June 2011}}{{cite news|last=Saleh |first=Yasmine |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BU2VR20110101 |title=Reuters – Bomb kills 21 at Egypt Church |publisher=Reuters.com |date= 1 January 2011|access-date=29 June 2011}}{{cite news|author=Yolande Knell Middle East specialist |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12103248 |title=Egypt's president calls for unity after church bombing |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=1 January 2011 |access-date=29 June 2011}}

In Tahrir Square, Cairo, on Wednesday 2 February 2011, Coptic Christians joined hands to provide a protective cordon around their Muslim neighbors during salat (prayers) in the midst of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110206113155/http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/03/5981906-christians-protect-muslims-during-prayer-in-cairos-dangerous-tahrir-square Christians protect Muslims during prayer in Cairo's dangerous Tahrir square], Nevine Zaki, 3 February 2011, accessed 9 February 2011

On 7 May 2011, an armed group of Islamists, including Salafists, attacked and set fire to two churches including Saint Menas Coptic Orthodox Christian Church and the Coptic Church of the Holy Virgin, in Cairo. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 12 people and more than 230 wounded. It is reported that the events were triggered by a mixed marriage between a Christian woman and a Muslim man.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110508104111/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/08/egypt.clashes/?hpt=T2 State TV: At least 12 killed, 232 wounded in clashes at Cairo church], CNN.com, 8 May 2011.

On 17 March 2012, the Coptic Orthodox Pope, Shenouda III died, leaving many Copts mourning and worrying as tensions rose with Muslims. Shenouda III had constantly met with Muslim leaders in order to create peace. Many were worried about Muslims controlling Egypt, as the Muslim Brotherhood had won 70% of the parliamentary elections.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/world/middleeast/coptic-pope-shenouda-iiis-death-adds-to-fears-in-egypt.html | work=The New York Times | first=Kareem | last=Fahim | title=Coptic Pope Shenouda III's Death Adds to Fears in Egypt | date=20 March 2012}}{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/04/egypt-election-results-muslim-brotherhood_n_1127897.html | work=Huffington Post | title=Muslim Brotherhood Sweeps Up Over One-Third Of Votes In Egyptian Elections | date=4 December 2011}} Tawadros II was elected Pope on 4 November 2012.

In February 2015, twenty-one Coptic Christians were kidnapped and beheaded in Libya by ISIS insurgents. Six days later, they were canonized as martyrs by Pope Tawadros II.{{cite web | url=http://www.news.va/en/news/coptic-church-recognizes-martyrdom-of-21-coptic-ch | title=Coptic Church Recognizes Martyrdom of 21 Coptic Christians | date=21 February 2015 | access-date=21 February 2015}}

Image:Secretary Pompeo Visits the Cathedral of the Nativity in Cairo, Egypt (32819167098) (cropped).jpg

In January 2017, following twin terrorist attacks that killed at least 27 Coptic Egyptians at St. Peter and St. Paul's Church in Cairo in December 2016, the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi commissioned the construction of the country's largest mosque and church in the new administrative capital to become symbols of coexistence and national unity.{{cite web|title=Pope Tawadros II to lead first ever mass at Egypt's new Nativity of Christ Cathedral|url=http://www.nileinternational.net/en/?p=86367|website=Nile TV|access-date=2019-03-25|archive-date=2019-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114153316/http://www.nileinternational.net/en/?p=86367|url-status=dead}} For decades, the building of churches in Egypt was restricted to avoid offending Islam. The Cathedral of the Nativity in Cairo was inaugurated on 6 January 2019 by President el-Sisi and Pope Tawadros II.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/egypt-s-copts-prepare-for-opening-of-cathedral-in-new-administrative-capital-1.692886|title=Egypt's Copts prepare for opening of cathedral in new administrative capital|work=The National|date=4 January 2018}} On the same day of the inauguration, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the chapel of the cathedral with the participation of some 3,000 people that included representatives from all over the country.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/01/04/egypts-new-cathedral-may-big-target-isis-coptic-christians-fear-isis-they-celebrate-opening-new-cath/1003751001/|title=Egypt's new cathedral may be a big target for ISIS, Coptic Christians fear|work=USA TODAY}}{{cite news|url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/39497/WRAP-UP-Sisi-celebrates-Christmas-with-Copts-at-Christ-Cathedral|title=WRAP-UP: Sisi celebrates Christmas with Copts at Christ Cathedral|date=7 January 2018|access-date=12 February 2019}}

File:Սուրբ Կիրակոս եկեղեցի (Դիարբեքիր) (3).JPG in Turkey, restored and reopened in 2011 and reconfiscated by the Turkish government in 2016]]

The construction of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh began in 2006.http://en.hayernaysor.am/2015/11/04/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124142009/http://en.hayernaysor.am/2015/11/04/ |date=2015-11-24 }} Construction of St. Mary Mother Cathedral of Stepanakert

In October 2013 Father Asoghik Karapetyan, the director of the Museum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, stated on television that an atheist Armenian is not a "true Armenian". A spokesperson for the Armenian Apostolic Church stated that it is his personal view.{{cite news|title=Աթեիստ հայը հայ չէ՞. Մայր Աթոռը չի ցանկանում մեկնաբանել Տեր Ասողիկի խոսքերը|url=https://news.am/arm/news/175870.html|work=news.am|date=14 October 2013|language=hy}} The statement received considerable criticism,{{cite news|last=Hunanyan|first=Samvel|title=Ցանկացած մարդ, ով իրեն հայ է համարում, նա հայ է, վերջացավ|url=http://www.asparez.am/news-hy/cankacac_mard_haye-hy/|work=Asparez|date=1 November 2013|language=hy}} though Asoghik did not retract his statement.{{cite news|last=Hakobyan|first=Gohar|title=Տեր Ասողիկը հետ չի կանգնում իր խոսքերից. "Աթեիստ հայը լիարժեք հայ չէ"|url=http://www.aravot.am/2014/05/19/461776/|work=Aravot|date=19 May 2014|language=hy}} In an editorial in the liberal Aravot daily Aram Abrahamyan suggested that religious identity should not be equated with national (ethnic) identity and it is up to every individual to decide whether they are Armenian or not, regardless of religion.{{cite news|last=Abrahamyan|first=Aram|title=Բոլորը հայ են, ովքեր իրենց հայ են համարում|url=http://www.aravot.am/2013/10/15/396280/|work=Aravot|date=15 October 2013|language=hy}} According to a 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center, in Armenia 82% of respondents say it is very or somewhat important to be a Christian to be truly Armenian.{{cite web |title=Eastern and Western Europeans Differ on Importance of Religion, Views of Minorities, and Key Social Issues |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2018/10/29/eastern-and-western-europeans-differ-on-importance-of-religion-views-of-minorities-and-key-social-issues/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |date=29 October 2018}}

On 24 April 2015, the Armenian Apostolic Church canonized all of the victims of the Armenian genocide as martyrs, which began a hundred years prior to the following day on 24 April 1915; this service is believed to be the largest canonization service in history.{{cite web|last=Davlashyan |first=Naira |url=https://news.yahoo.com/armenian-church-canonise-1-5-million-genocide-victims-075841925.html |title=Armenian Church makes saints of 1.5 million genocide victims – Yahoo News |publisher=News.yahoo.com |access-date=2015-04-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/191101/ |title=Armenian Genocide victims canonized in Holy Etchmiadzin |publisher=Panarmenian.Net |access-date=2015-04-23}}{{cite web |url=http://www.armenianow.com/genocide/62740/armenia_genocide_martyrs_victims_canonization_church_echmiadzin |title=Canonized: Armenian Church proclaims collective martyrdom of Genocide victims – Genocide |publisher=ArmeniaNow.com |date=2015-04-23 |access-date=2018-12-31 |archive-date=2020-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729171436/https://www.armenianow.com/genocide/62740/armenia_genocide_martyrs_victims_canonization_church_echmiadzin |url-status=dead }} It was the first canonization by the Armenian Apostolic Church in four hundred years.{{cite web|url=http://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/armenian_ac/59027/ |title=After 400 years, new saints for the Armenian Church |publisher=Risu.org.ua |date=2015-04-23}}

On 26 September 2017, a deaconess was consecrated in the Tehran Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the first Armenian deaconess in a hundred years.{{cite web |last1=Tchilingirian |first1=Hratch |authorlink=Hratch Tchilingirian|title=Historic Ordination of a Deaconess in the Tehran Diocese of the Armenian Church |url=https://www.civilnet.am/news/2018/01/12/Historic-Ordination-of-a-Deaconess-in-the-Tehran-Diocese-of-the-Armenian-Church/327873 |website=Civilnet.am |access-date=22 October 2018}}

On 3 October 2019, Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported on a 2012 lawsuit advancing through Turkish courts; the lawsuit was filed by Patriarch Nourhan Manougian of Jerusalem in an attempt to reclaim patriarchate property confiscated by the Turkish government during the Armenian genocide in 1915.{{cite news |last1=Sassounian |first1=Harut |title=Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate's Lawsuit Advances Through Turkish Courts |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2019/10/07/jerusalem-armenian-patriarchates-lawsuit-advances-through-turkish-courts/ |work=The Armenian Weekly |date=7 October 2019 |access-date=13 October 2019}} According to Patriarch Manougian, the "Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem owned around 1,200 properties in Istanbul alone" prior to the genocide. The court had originally dismissed the case in 2012, despite the patriarchate winning an appeal, but a decision from the Constitutional Court of Turkey ruled on 12 September 2019 that the previous court had violated the rights of the patriarchate.

File:Armenian wedding in damaged Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Artsakh, Shushi.png]]

Amidst the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, on 8 October 2020, the mother church of Artsakhtsi Christians Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi was bombed by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

{{cite news |title=Church bombed to ruins - Journalists were injured during second attack – one of them is fighting for his life |url=https://www.bild.de/politik/international/bild-international/bild-reporter-at-armenian-frontline-church-bombed-to-ruins-73330690.bild.html |work=azatutyun.am |agency=BILD.de |date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201008182546/https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30883037.html |archive-date=8 October 2020}} Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan of Artsakh compared the shelling with the actions of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, saying "They are bombarding our spiritual values, when we are restoring and preserving mosques".{{Cite news|title=They bomb our churches, we preserve mosques – Archbishop on Azeri "ISIS-style" attack in Artsakh|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1030853|access-date=2020-11-10|website=Armenpress|language=en}} Another priest at the cathedral said "I feel the pain that the walls of our beautiful cathedral are destroyed. I feel the pain that today the world does not react to what's happening here and that our boys are dying defending our Motherland".{{Cite news|title=Cellist plays to mourn cathedral shelled in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict|url=https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/videos/cellist-mourns-armenian-cathedral-bombed-azerbaijan-conflict/|access-date=2020-11-10|website=Classic FM|language=en}}

Patriarch Abune Paulos died on 16 August 2012, followed four days later by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.{{cite news|title=Ethiopian church patriarch Abune Paulos dies|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19285459|work=BBC News|date=16 August 2012|access-date=16 August 2012 }} On 28 February 2013, a college of electors assembled in Addis Ababa and elected Abune Mathias to be the 6th Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.{{cite news|title=Ethiopian church appoints Abune Mathias as patriarch | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21627611 | work=BBC News | date=2013-03-01 | access-date=2013-03-03 }}

On 25 July 2018, delegates from the Patriarchate in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and those in the United States, declared reunification in Washington, D.C., with the assistance of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.borkena.com/2018/07/26/ethiopian-church-officially-declared-reunification-in-the-presence-of-pm/|title=Ethiopian Church officially declared reunification in the presence of PM|date=27 July 2018}} Declaring the end of a 26 year old schism, which began in 1991 when the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front seized power in Ethiopia and exiled the patriarch, the Church announced that it now acknowledges two patriarchs: Abune Merkorios, the 4th Patriarch of Ethiopia, and Abune Mathias, the 6th Patriarch of Ethiopia.

The first Patriarch of the newly independent Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Abune Phillipos, died in 2002 and was succeeded by Abune Yacob. The reign of Abune Yacob as Patriarch of Eritrea was very brief as he died not long after his enthronement, and he was succeeded by Abune Antonios as the 3rd Patriarch of Eritrea. Abune Antonios was elected on 5 March 2004, and enthroned as the third Patriarch of Eritrea on 24 April 2004. Coptic Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria presided at the ceremony in Asmara, together with the Holy Synod of the Eritrean Orthodox Church and a Coptic Orthodox Church delegation.

In August 2005, Abune Antonios, the Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, was confined to a strictly ceremonial role. In a letter dated 13 January 2006, Patriarch Abune Antonios was informed that following several sessions of the church's Holy Synod, he had been formally deposed. In a written response that was widely published, the Patriarch rejected the grounds of his dismissal, questioned the legitimacy of the synod, and excommunicated two signatories to the 13 January 2006 letter, including Yoftahe Dimetros, whom the Patriarch identified as being responsible for the church's recent upheavals. Patriarch Antonios also appealed his case to the Council of the Monasteries of the Eritrean Orthodox Church and to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Abune Antonios was deposed by the Eritrean Holy Synod{{cite news|url=http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20060201-033933-4818r |title=Orthodox patriarch of Eritrea sacked |date=2006-02-01 |access-date=2007-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083755/http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20060201-033933-4818r |archive-date=2007-09-29 }} supposedly under pressure from the Eritrean government and he remains under house arrest.{{cite news | title =Eritrea Imposes New Controls on Orthodox Church | publisher = Compass Direct News | year =2006 | url =http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1457982.html | access-date =2007-01-05}} Abuna Antonios was replaced by Abune Dioskoros as the 4th Patriarch of Eritrea. Many believe that Abune Antonios was wrongly deposed and still consider him Patriarch. Many Eritrean Orthodox followers disagree with the Eritrean government making decisions in religious matters.{{cite web | url=http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/excommunication-notice-from-the-union-of-eritrean-orthodox-monasteries// | title=Excommunication Notice from the Union of Eritrean Orthodox Monasteries | publisher=The Orthodox Church News | date=1 November 2014 | access-date=1 November 2014 | archive-date=24 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024030221/http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/excommunication-notice-from-the-union-of-eritrean-orthodox-monasteries/ | url-status=dead }} The ruling Patriarch Abune Dioskoros died on 21 December 2015.[https://books.google.com/books?id=Nfc6DQAAQBAJ&dq=Abune+Dioskoros+december+2015&pg=PA300 Africa Yearbook] His seat remained vacant until 2021 when he was succeeded by Abune Qerlos.

After the fall of Mosul, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant demanded that Assyrian Christians living in the city convert to Islam, pay tribute, or face execution, by 19 July 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28381455|title=BBC News – Iraqi Christians flee after Isis issue Mosul ultimatum|work=BBC News|date=18 July 2014|access-date=13 February 2015}}{{cite news |last=van Tets |first=Fernande |title=Isis takes Iraq's largest Christian town as residents told – 'leave, convert or die' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-takes-iraqs-largest-christian-town-of-qaraqosh-9653789.html |work=The Independent |date=7 August 2014 |access-date=5 January 2015}}{{cite news |last=Jadallah |first=Ahmed |title=Convert, pay tax, or die, Islamic State warns Christians |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-security-christians-idUKKBN0FN29N20140718 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119055308/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-security-christians-idUKKBN0FN29N20140718 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2016 |work=Reuters |date=18 July 2014 |access-date=5 January 2015}}{{cite news |title=Convert, pay tax, or die, Islamic State warns Christians |date=18 July 2014 |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-christians-idUSKBN0FN29J20140718 |quote=It said that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had set a Saturday deadline for Christians who did not want to stay and live under those terms to "leave the borders of the Islamic Caliphate". "After this date, there is nothing between us and them but the sword," it said.}} Al-Baghdadi further noted that Christians who do not agree to follow those terms must "leave the borders of the Islamic Caliphate" within a specified deadline. This resulted in a complete Assyrian Christian exodus from Mosul, marking the end of 1,600 years of continuous Christian presence.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/3221/for_the_first_time_in_a_1600_years_no_masses_said_in_mosul.aspx|title=For the first time in 1,800 years, no Masses said in Mosul|publisher=Catholicworldreport.com|access-date=16 October 2014}}

A church mass was not held in Mosul for the first time in 1,800 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.iraqinews.com/baghdad-politics/iraqi-christian-church-burnings-confirmed-eu-delegation/|title=Iraqi Christian church burnings confirmed by EU delegation|work=Iraq news, the latest Iraq news|date=16 June 2014|access-date=13 February 2015}} On 9 July 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi arrived in preparation to announce the full liberation of Mosul and reclaim the city after three years of ISIL control.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-40549333 Mosul: Iraq PM to celebrate victory over IS in the city] BBC, 9 July 2017

Image:Surp Khach Gyumri, Armenia, June 2015.jpg cathedral dedicated in 2015 to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide]]

On 18 February 2001, Pope John Paul II during his Angelus address commemorated the 1,700th anniversary of the baptism of the Armenian people and referred to St. Gregory of Narek ({{langx|hy|Գրիգոր Նարեկացի}}) as "the great doctor of the Armenian Church."{{cite web |last1=John Paul II |title=Angelus, 18 February 2001 |url=https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/angelus/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_ang_20010218.html |website=The Holy See}} In September 2001, John Paul II traveled to Armenia and participated in an ecumenical liturgy at the newly consecrated Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Yerevan.{{cite web |last1=John Paul II |title=Ecumenical Liturgy, Yerevan |url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/ecumenical-liturgy-yerevan-7977 |website=EWTN |publisher=L'Osservatore Romano |access-date=25 October 2019}}

On 12 April 2015, on Divine Mercy Sunday, during a Mass for the centennial of the Armenian genocide at St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis officially proclaimed St. Gregory of Narek as a Doctor of the Church in attendance of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I, and Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni.{{cite news|title=Historic Mass dedicated to 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide begins at the Vatican (live)|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/801408/historic-mass-dedicated-to-100th-anniversary-of-the-armenian-genocide-begins-at-the-vatican-live.html|agency=Armenpress|date=12 April 2015}} He became the 36th and the first Armenian Doctor of the Church.{{cite web|title=St. Gregory of Narek is classified among the doctors of the church of the Catholic Church|url=http://www.1tv.am/en/news/2015/04/12/St-Gregory-of-Narek-is-classified-among-the-doctors-of-the-church-of-the-Catholic-Church/12985|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611150419/http://www.1tv.am/en/news/2015/04/12/St-Gregory-of-Narek-is-classified-among-the-doctors-of-the-church-of-the-Catholic-Church/12985|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2016|website=1tv.am|publisher=Public Television of Armenia|date=12 April 2015}} He is also the only Doctor "who was not in communion with the Catholic Church during his lifetime."{{cite web|last1=Del Cogliano|first1=Mark|title=A New Doctor of the Church: St. Gregory of Narek|url=http://www.stthomas.edu/news/theology-matters-new-doctor-church-st-gregory-narek/|website=theology matters|publisher=University of St. Thomas Department of Theology|date=8 October 2015}}

Cathedral of the Holy Martyrs ({{langx|hy|Սրբոց Նահատակաց եկեղեցի}}) in Gyumri, Armenia, the cathedral for the Armenian Catholic Ordinariate for Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Eastern Europe was consecrated by Krikor Bedros XX Gabroyan, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, on 24 September 2015. The ceremony was held as part of the commemoration of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The cathedral is named "Holy Martyrs" in memory of victims of the Armenian Genocide, as the Armenian Apostolic Church canonized them as martyrs.[http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/09/24/holy-martyrs-armenian-catholic-church-in-gyumri-consecrated Holy Martyrs Armenian Catholic Church consecrated][https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/armenia/11559613/Armenian-Church-makes-saints-of-1.5-million-genocide-victims.html Armenian Church makes saints of 1.5 million genocide victims] On 25 June 2016, Pope Francis, accompanied by Catholicos Karekin II, visited the cathedral.

On 26 June 2016, Catholicos Karekin II and Pope Francis signed a joint declaration on the family. It stated that the secularization of society and its "alienation from the spiritual and divine" are damaging to the family, and affirmed that the Catholic and Armenian Apostolic churches share a marriage–based view of the family. The declaration also took note of various positive steps taken towards unity between the two leaders' churches, and "acknowledged the successful 'new phase' in relations" between them. It also lamented "immense tragedy" of the widespread persecution of Christians in the Middle East; the Pope and the Catholicos prayed "for a change of heart in all those who commit such crimes and those who are in a position to stop the violence".{{Cite news|url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-and-catholicos-karekin-ii-sign-joint-declaration-on-family-uni/|title=Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin II Sign Joint Declaration on Family, Unity and Solidarity|last=Schneible|first=Ann|date=26 June 2016|publisher=EWTN News, Inc.|newspaper=National Catholic Register|access-date=27 June 2016|via=EWTN News / Catholic News Agency|archive-date=25 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225120103/http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-and-catholicos-karekin-ii-sign-joint-declaration-on-family-uni|url-status=dead}}

On 5 April 2018, a two-meter-high bronze statue of St. Gregory of Narek, erected by Davit Yerevantsi, was unveiled at the Vatican Gardens by Mikael Minasyan, Armenia's Ambassador to the Holy See. The inaugural ceremony was attended by Pope Francis, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Armenian Apostolic catholicoi Karekin II and Aram I.{{cite news|last1=Danielyan|first1=Emil|title=New Vatican Statue Highlights Armenian-Catholic Rapprochement|url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29148075.html|agency=RFE/RL|date=5 April 2018}}{{cite news |title=Statue of St. Gregory of Narek unveiled in Vatican |url=https://president.am/en/press-release/item/2018/04/05/President-Serzh-Sargsyan-attended-the-unveiling-ceremony-of-the-statue-of-Saint-Gregory-of-Narek/ |work=president.am |agency=The Office to the President of Armenia |date=5 April 2018}} In September 2018, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian was appointed in early September as the first-ever representative of the Apostolic Armenian Church to the Holy See.{{cite news |last1=Gagliarducci |first1=Andrea |title=Armenian Apostolic Church appoints first-ever representative in Rome |url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/12/20/armenian-apostolic-church-appoints-first-ever-representative-in-rome/ |work=Crux |publisher=Crux Catholic Media Inc |date=20 December 2018}}

In the summer of 2001, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria agreed to mutually recognize baptisms performed in each other's churches, making re-baptisms unnecessary, and to recognize the sacrament of marriage as celebrated by the other.{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxjointcommission.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/pastoral-agreement-between-the-coptic-orthodox-and-greek-orthodox-patriarchates-of-alexandria/|title=Pastoral Agreement between the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria|date=2001|website=Orthodox Unity (Orthodox Joint Commission)|language=en|access-date=2019-03-14}}

File:Cathedral_of_Our_Lady_of_Walsingham_-_Houston_01.jpg in Houston, Texas, the mother church of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, elevated to the status of cathedral in 2015 when Steven J. Lopes became the first bishop of the ordinariate]]

Pope John Paul II officially called off all future talks between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion upon the consecration of Gene Robinson as a bishop in 2003.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/|title=News|date=2016-03-15|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} In conversation with the Anglican Bishop of Gibraltar,{{cite news |first=Geoffrey|last=Rowell|author-link=Geoffrey Rowell|title=Age of Benedict must be one of Christian unity|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article386763.ece|work=Comment: Faith|publisher=The Times|date=2005-04-30|access-date=2007-07-01|page=75 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, warned that if the Church of England was to ordain women as bishops, as the Episcopal Church had already done, then it could destroy any chance of reuniting the Catholic and Anglican churches.[http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/tct/jun2306/062306challenges.html Challenges lie ahead for Episcopal Church in U.S.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625232932/http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/tct/jun2306/062306challenges.html |date=2006-06-25 }}, url accessed 6/26/06 In December 2014, Libby Lane was announced as the first woman to become a bishop in the Church of England. She was consecrated as a bishop in January 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-religion-anglican-women-idUSKBN0KZ0Z820150126|title=After turmoil, Church of England consecrates first woman bishop|work=Reuters}} In July 2015, Rachel Treweek was the first woman to become a diocesan bishop in the Church of England when she became the Bishop of Gloucester.[http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2015/07/first-female-diocesan-bishop-in-c-of-e-consecrated.aspx First female diocesan bishop in C of E consecrated]. Anglicannews.org. Retrieved on 23 July 2015. She and Sarah Mullally, Bishop of Crediton, were the first women to be ordained as bishops at Canterbury Cathedral. Treweek later made headlines by calling for gender-inclusive language, saying that "God is not to be seen as male. God is God."{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/24/bishop-rachel-treweek-gods-not-a-he-or-a-she|title='God is not a he or a she', says first female bishop to sit in House of Lords|last=Sherwood|first=Harriet|date=24 October 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=30 April 2016}}

In late 2009, in response to requests from various groups of Anglicans around the world who were dissatisfied with liberalizing movements within the Anglican Communion, Pope Benedict XVI issued the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus. This document invites groups of traditionalist Anglicans to form what are termed "Anglican ordinariates" or "personal ordinariates" under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church, while preserving elements of the liturgical, musical, theological and other aspects of their Anglican patrimony. Under these terms, regional groupings of Anglican Catholics may apply for reception by the Holy See under the jurisdiction of an "ordinary" (i.e. a bishop or priest{{NoteTag|In the Catholic Church in general, ordinaries are supposed to be bishops, or at least episcopal vicars, but this condition was relaxed for Anglican ordinariates so as to allow married former Anglican bishops to become ordinaries: while priests in Anglican ordinariates may be married, bishops may not, as this is the general rule in both Catholic and Orthodox churches. Therefore, married Anglican bishops or priests converting to Catholicism receive the priestly ordination, and may not become Catholic bishops afterwards.}}) appointed by Rome to oversee the community. While being in a country or region which is part of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, these ordinaries will nonetheless retain aspects of the Anglican patrimony, such as married priests and traditional English choral music and liturgy.

As of 2013, marrying a Catholic no longer disqualifies a person from succeeding to the British Crown.{{Citation |year=2013 |title=Succession to the Crown Act |periodical=Acts of the United Kingdom Parliament |volume=2013 |issue=20 |at=Section 2 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/20/ |access-date=2014-04-07|quote=(1) A person is not disqualified from succeeding to the Crown or from possessing it as a result of marrying a person of the Catholic faith. (2) Subsection (1) applies in relation to marriages occurring before the time of the coming into force of this section where the person concerned is alive at that time (as well as in relation to marriages occurring after that time).}}Succession to the Crown Bill, Schedule paragraph 5 (as introduced) The explanation published when the bill had been introduced mentioned that those who had lost their places in the line of succession by marrying a Catholic would regain their places, but that those "with a realistic prospect of succeeding to the Throne" would not be affected. The first person in the new line of succession to be affected by this change when it came into effect was George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, who had married a Catholic in 1988, and was restored to the line of succession in 34th place, after his father the Duke of Kent, although his Catholic children remain excluded.[http://royalcentral.co.uk/state/what-do-the-new-royal-succession-changes-mean-46610 "What do the new royal succession changes mean?"] at Royal Central website, 26 March 2015 (retrieved 30 March 2015). The provision of the Act of Settlement requiring the monarch to be a Protestant continues, as the monarch remains the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

On 13 October 2019, Pope Francis canonized Saint John Henry Newman, a London-born priest who led the Oxford Movement in the Church of England before converting to Catholicism and becoming an Oratorian Father and eventually the Cardinal-Deacon of San Giorgio in Velabro.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-50032640|title=Cardinal Newman declared a saint by the Pope|date=13 October 2019|access-date=13 October 2019|work=BBC News}} Newman is the first Englishman who has lived since the 17th century to be officially recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church. In attendance at the canonization ceremony in St. Peter Square was Charles, Prince of Wales, who in 2022 would become king and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

File:Pope Franciscus & Patriarch Bartholomew I in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (1).JPG in Jerusalem.]]

In June 2004, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I's visit to Rome afforded a meeting with Pope John Paul II, for conversations with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and for taking part in the celebration for the feast day in St. Peter's Basilica. Some of the bones of Saints Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, which were looted from Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, were returned to the Church of St George, Istanbul by Pope John Paul II.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

The Ravenna Document in 2007 re-stated the notion that the Bishop of Rome is indeed the first ({{langx|el|link=no|πρώτος|translit=protos}}) among the patriarchs, although future discussions are to be held on the concrete ecclesiological exercise of papal primacy.{{cite web|title=Ravenna Document |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/ch_orthodox_docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20071013_documento-ravenna_en.html |work=Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church|publisher=Vatican Publishing House|access-date=22 May 2013|date=13 October 2007}}

Patriarch Bartholomew attended the papal inauguration of Pope Francis on 19 March 2013, paving the way for better Catholic–Orthodox relations. It was the first time that the spiritual head of Eastern Orthodox Christians had attended a papal inauguration since the Great Schism in 1054.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-idUSBRE92D05P20130319 Pope sets tone for humbler papacy, calls for defense of the weak]. Reuters. Published: 19 March 2013{{cite news |title= Our Eastern Brothers |first= Alton J. |last= Pelowski |journal= Columbia |date= May 2013 |pages= 20–23}} After, he invited Pope Francis to travel with him to the Holy Land in 2014 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the embrace between Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI.

On 12 February 2016, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow met in a VIP room at José Martí International Airport near Havana, Cuba. Francis arrived at 2 pm local time, and the two leaders embraced and kissed.{{cite news|last=Yardley|first=Jim|date=12 February 2016|title=Pope and Russian Orthodox Leader Meet in Historic Step|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/13/world/americas/pope-arrives-in-cuba-for-historic-meeting-with-russian-orthodox-leader.html?ref=world&_r=1|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2016-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216000758/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/13/world/americas/pope-arrives-in-cuba-for-historic-meeting-with-russian-orthodox-leader.html?_r=3|archive-date=16 February 2016|url-status=live}} A 2-hour private meeting was followed by the signing of a joint declaration, which had been prepared in advance.{{cite news|date=13 February 2016|title=Unity call as Pope Francis holds historic talks with Russian Orthodox Patriarch|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-35565085|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212224729/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-35565085|archive-date=12 February 2016|url-status=live}} The 30-point declaration contained a joint call by the two church primates for an end to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and to wars in the region, expressing their hope that the meeting might contribute to the re-establishment of Christian unity between the two churches. A range of other issues are mentioned in the declaration, including atheism, secularism, consumerism, migrants and refugees, the importance of marriage and the family, and concerns relating to abortion and euthanasia.{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2016/february/documents/papa-francesco_20160212_dichiarazione-comune-kirill.html|title=Meeting of His Holiness Pope Francis with His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia|date=12 February 2016|website=w2.vatican.va|publisher=The Holy See|access-date=2016-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215202949/http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2016/february/documents/papa-francesco_20160212_dichiarazione-comune-kirill.html|archive-date=15 February 2016|url-status=live}}

On 3 July 2019, it was revealed that during a Vatican meeting with Orthodox Archbishop Job of Telmessos, who represented the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, during the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on 29 June 2019, Pope Francis stated that unity rather than leveling differences should be the goal between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicsun.org/2019/07/03/ecumenical-goal-is-unity-not-leveling-differences-pope-says/|title=Ecumenical goal is unity, not leveling differences, pope says|date=3 July 2019}} Pope Francis also gave Bartholomew nine bone fragments which were believed to have belonged to Saint Peter and which were displayed at a public Mass which was held in the Vatican in November 2013 to celebrate the Year of Faith.{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/pope-gives-relics-of-st-peter-to-orthodox-patriarch.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703232112/https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/pope-gives-relics-of-st-peter-to-orthodox-patriarch.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2019|title = On feast of St. Francis, pope joins Amazonians to plant tree at Vatican|date = 4 October 2019}} Despite holding a "cordial" meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom the Pope has had a history of good relations,{{cite web|url= https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/839859/Vladimir-Putin-Pope-friendship-Moscow-corrupt-EU|title= Vladimir Putin cultivates friendship with the Pope in attempt to get one over on EU|first= Alix|last= Culbertson|date= 11 August 2017|work= Daily Express|location= London|df= mdy-all|quote= President Vladimir Putin struck up his friendship with the Pope in 2013 when Francis wrote an open letter to the Russian leader, who was chairing the G20, telling him he opposed US military intervention in Syria.}} on 4 July 2019, tensions between the Vatican and Russian Orthodox churches still remained, with Pope Francis stating that it is unlikely that he will visit Russia unless Putin agrees to not include the Russian Orthodox Church in the visit.{{Cite web |url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/07/04/pope-meets-putin-two-leaders-talk-about-ukraine-syria-venezuela/ |title=Pope meets Putin; two leaders talk about Ukraine, Syria, Venezuela |access-date=2019-10-08 |archive-date=2019-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704234924/https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/07/04/pope-meets-putin-two-leaders-talk-about-ukraine-syria-venezuela/ |url-status=dead }} Putin also stated to the Pope that he would not invite the Pope to Russia without this condition. Pope Francis also hinted that was willing to support the concerns of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which has expressed opposition to both Putin's intervention in Ukraine and the Vatican's current relationship with Putin.{{Cite web|url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/magazine/what-putin-wants-from-the-pope/|title=What Putin wants from the Pope|date=4 July 2019}} At the beginning of a two-day Vatican meeting with Ukrainian Greek-Catholic leaders on 5 July 2019, Pope Francis hinted that he supported the Church's concerns in Ukraine and called for greater humanitarian aid to Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/ukrainian-greek-catholic-leaders-meet-with-pope-in-the-vatican.html|title = Ukrainian Greek-Catholic leaders meet with Pope at the Vatican - Vatican News|date = 5 July 2019}}

On 12 November 2019, Patriarch Bartholomew, the Abbot of Xenophontos and a hieromonk from Pantokratoros Monastery on Mount Athos participated in a Vespers service at the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, a Trappist Catholic monastery.{{cite news |last1=Konstantinova |first1=Elena |title=Patriarch Bartholomew and Xenophontos Abbot pray with Catholics in Belgium |url=https://spzh.news/en/news/66463-v-belygii-patriarkh-varfolomej-i-igumen-ksenofonta-pomolilisy-s-katolikami |work=Union of Orthodox Journalists |date=17 November 2019}} Upon returning with the abbots to Mount Athos, Bartholomew gave a speech at Pantokratoros Monastery declaring that union with the Catholic Church is inevitable as no theological differences exist between the churches and only historical differences have kept the two churches from union.{{cite news |last1=Konstantinova |first1=Elena |title=Head of Phanar in Athos persuades monks to unite with Catholics |url=https://spzh.news/en/news/66683-glava-fanara-na-afone-ubezhdal-bratiju-v-neobkhodimosti-jedinenija-s-katolikami |work=Union of Orthodox Journalists |date=25 November 2019}}

In 2016, on the 499th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, Pope Francis travelled to Sweden (where the Lutheran Church is the national Church) to commemorate the Reformation at Lund Cathedral, which serves as the seat for the Lutheran Bishop of Lund.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/pope-francis-visit-sweden-october-mark-reformation-anniversary-113851358.html|title=500 years after reformation, Pope knocks on Lutherans' door|last=MacKinnon|first=Angus|date=25 January 2016|publisher=Yahoo News|language=en|access-date=22 February 2017|quote=Pope Francis will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation by attending an ecumenical service in Sweden as a guest of the Lutheran Church, the Vatican said Monday. In a highly symbolic act of reconciliation that would even recently have been unthinkable for a Catholic pontiff, Francis will visit the Swedish city of Lund on 31 October for a commemoration jointly organised by his own inter-faith agency and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223045342/https://www.yahoo.com/news/pope-francis-visit-sweden-october-mark-reformation-anniversary-113851358.html|url-status=dead}} An official press release from the Holy See stated:

{{blockquote|The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Roman Catholic Church joint event will highlight the 50 years of continuous ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts of this collaboration. The Catholic-Lutheran commemoration of 500 years of the Reformation is structured around the themes of thanksgiving, repentance and commitment to common witness. The aim is to express the gifts of the Reformation and ask forgiveness for division perpetuated by Christians from the two traditions.{{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2016/06/01/160601e.html|title=Preparations to commemorate 500 years since the Reformation|date=1 June 2016|publisher=Holy See Press Office|language=en|access-date=22 February 2017}}}}

An ecumenical service was presided over by Munib Younan, the president of the Lutheran World Federation, Martin Junge, the General Secretary of the LWF, as well as Pope Francis.{{cite web|url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/01/25/pope_to_travel_to_sweden_for_joint_reformation_commemoration/1203462|title=Pope Francis to travel to Sweden for joint Reformation commemoration|date=26 January 2016|publisher=Vatican Radio|language=en|access-date=22 February 2017}} Representatives from the Anglican Communion, Baptist World Alliance, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Salvation Army also participated in the predominantly Catholic and Lutheran event.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/pope-to-attend-ceremony-marking-500-years-since-reformation-1.2510015|title=Pope to attend ceremony marking 500 years since Reformation|last=Agnew|first=Paddy|date=25 January 2016|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=22 February 2017}} Pope Francis, in a joint statement with Munib Younan, stated that "With gratitude we acknowledge that the Reformation helped give a greater centrality to sacred Scripture in the Church's life".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/01/world/europe/pope-francis-in-sweden-urges-catholic-lutheran-reconciliation.html|title=Pope Francis, in Sweden, Urges Catholic-Lutheran Reconciliation|last=Anderson|first=Christina|date=31 October 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|language=en|access-date=22 February 2017}}

On 28 April 2017, Pope Francis and Coptic Pope Tawadros ll agreed that they would not require re-baptism for Catholics who seek to join the Coptic Orthodox Church, and vice versa. The Catholic Church baptizes by affusion (pouring) and the Coptic Orthodox Church baptizes by immersion, but this declaration means that the two churches recognize each other's baptisms as a valid sacrament.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Andrew |title=Catholics and Copts Recognize Shared Baptism |url=https://www.thetrumpet.com/15756-catholics-and-copts-recognize-shared-baptism |website=The Trumpet |access-date=3 May 2017}}

{{Hidden|titlestyle = background-color: lavender;|21st century timeline|

• 2001 – New Tribes Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham are kidnapped in the Philippines by Muslim terrorist group
• 2002 – The Boston Globe publishes results of child sex abuse investigation implicating five priests from the Archdiocese of Boston
• 2003 – Mission Province splits from Church of Sweden over ordination of women
• 2003 – Gene Robinson becomes first openly gay non-celibate Episcopalian bishop and Anglican realignment begins in reaction
• 2004 – Four Southern Baptist missionaries are killed by gunman in Iraq
• 2005 – Death of Pope John Paul II, election of Pope Benedict XVI
• 2005 – United Church of Christ becomes first protestant denomination to support same-sex marriage
• 2006 – Missionary Vijay Kumar is publicly stoned by Hindu extremists for Christian preaching
• 2006 – Legion of Christ begins to rapidly decline following the disgrace of its founder Marcial Maciel
• 2006 – Palestinian Christian churches issue Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism, a joint statement condemning Christian Zionism as heresy
• 2007 – Kriol Bible completed, the first translation of the entire Bible into an Australian indigenous language
• 2007 – Pope Benedict XVI issues motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, allowing priests to celebrate the Tridentine Mass without permission from bishop
• 2007 – Russian Orthodox Church reunifies after 80 years of schism with Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia a formerly True Orthodox sect.
• 2008 – Death of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow, election of Patriarch Kirill
• 2009 – Anglican Church in North America splits from Episcopal Church over LGBT issues
• 2009 – Pope Benedict XVI issues apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus, establishing personal ordinariates for Anglican Use Catholics
• 2012 – ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians splits from Presbyterian Church (USA) over LGBT issues
• 2012 – Death of Coptic Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, election of Pope Tawadros II
• 2013 – Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, election of Pope Francis
• 2014 – No Mass is said in Mosul for the first time in 1,600 years due to the city's fall to ISIL
• 2015 – 21 Copts kidnapped and beheaded by ISIL in Libya, canonized as martyrs by Coptic Pope Tawadros II
• 2015 – Catholicos Karekin II canonizes 1.5 million Armenians killed in Armenian genocide as martyrs
• 2015 – 9 churchgoers murdered at historically black church in Charleston church shooting by white supremacist
• 2016 – Catholics commemorate Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
• 2016 – 75 churchgoers killed in Easter church bombing in Pakistan carried out by Taliban
• 2016 – U.S. Supreme Court sides with Little Sisters of the Poor in Zubik v. Burwell, exempting religious groups from Obamacare contraceptive mandate
• 2017 – Catholic Church and Coptic Church recognize shared baptism
• 2017 – Mosul is retaken by Iraqi security forces, Christian community returns to city
• 2018 – Russian Orthodox Church breaks ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
• 2018 – Unification of Ukrainian Orthodox churches in defiance of Moscow patriarchate amidst Russo-Ukrainian War
• 2019 – 259 churchgoers murdered in Sri Lanka Easter bombings
• 2020 – Churches close temporarily and launch digital church services due to COVID-19 pandemic
• 2022 – Global Methodist Church splits from United Methodist Church over LGBT issues
• 2025 – Catholics commemorate 2025 Jubilee
• 2025 – Death of Pope Francis, election of Pope Leo XIV

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• Timeline of the Roman Catholic Church#21st century

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

• Farrell, Joseph P. [http://dialectic.wordpress.com/ghd/ God, History, & Dialectic: The Theological Foundations of the Two Europes and Their Cultural Consequences]. Bound edition 1997. Electronic edition 2008.
• {{cite book | last = González | first = Justo L. | title = The Story of Christianity, Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present Day | location = San Francisco | publisher = Harper | year = 1985 | isbn = 0-06-063316-6 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/storyofchristian01gonz }}
• {{cite book | last = Hastings | first = Adrian | year = 1999 | title = A World History of Christianity | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing | isbn = 0-8028-4875-3}}
• {{cite book | last = Latourette | first = Kenneth Scott | author-link = Kenneth Scott Latourette | title = A History of Christianity, Volume 2 | year = 1975 | location = San Francisco | publisher = Harper | isbn = 0-06-064953-4 }}
• Nichols, Aidan. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0814650198 Rome and the Eastern Churches: a Study in Schism]. 1992
• {{cite book |last = Shelley|first = Bruce L. |year = 1996 |title = Church History in Plain Language |publisher = Word Pub. |edition = 2nd |isbn = 0-8499-3861-9 }}

• {{Cite web |url=http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv1%E2%80%9349 |title=Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Christianity in History |access-date=March 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071016200443/http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv1%E2%80%9349 |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Church History |volume=6 |pages=330–345 |first=Walter Alison |last=Phillips |short=1}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://baptistpillar.com/bd0547.htm |title=Historical Christianity, A time line with references to the descendants of the early church. |access-date=August 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202101418/http://baptistpillar.com/bd0547.htm |archive-date=February 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

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