Exclusive: Manchester delegation to meet the Pope to discuss climate change
A delegation of interfaith religious and civic leaders from Manchester is travelling to Rome next week for an audience with Pope Francis at which they will pledge their commitment to tackling climate change. The initiative came from the Dean of Manchester, Rogers Govender, who founded an interfaith climate change group after overseeing the installation of ground source heat pumps in the cathedral. He is leading the delegation with the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, John Arnold, joined by members of all faiths and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who said: “It will give me great pride to be at The Vatican to witness the historic moment our faith and civic leaders make our commitment to the Holy Father. This is the first time that all the faith leaders of Greater Manchester have come together with civic leaders to agree our pledge for a greener Greater Manchester region”. Full exclusive story by Rosie Dawson is on our website here.
New papal nuncio to Great Britain
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía as the new papal nuncio to Great Britain. Born in Madrid, he studied philosophy and theology in Spain and was ordained aged 25, joining the Holy See’s diplomatic service seven years later. He has served in many countries including Rwanda, Uganda, Morocco, Nicaragua, Egypt, Slovenia, Ireland, Romania and Moldova. He fills a post vacant since the previous Nuncio left five months ago.
President Joe Biden’s trip to Knock Shrine
President Joe Biden will visit Knock Shrine today, his last personal visit ending a four day trip to Ireland north and south. Thousands of people visit Knock Shrine in pilgrimage to a place where, in 1879, local villagers saw a vision of the Virgin Mary, St Joseph and St John. Biden’s prayerful moment will cap a visit where he has met politicians and civic leaders, speaking with encouragement over a bright economic future and shared values between America and Ireland, the land of his forefathers. He is known for his devout Catholic affiliation.
Vaisakhi festival observed today
The festival of Vaisakhi is celebrated today, 14 April, marking the start of two weeks of public events, processions and devotions in England. It is observed in the Hindu and Sikh religious traditions. For Sikhs, Vaisakhi marks a Punjabi harvest festival and the founding more than 400 years ago of the Khalsa, when five men passed the test to be initiated into a new order dedicated to the values of Sikh gurus. (see our factsheet here). Processions around town centres and parks are led by five Sikhs in ceremonial dress, drummers, performers of Gatka (a Sikh martial art) and floats carrying women and spiritual leaders who chant prayers and sing hymns. 524,000 Sikhs live in England and Wales, with the majority in London and the west Midlands. Among the many celebrations are a colourful event in London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday 22 April and a large procession around Coventry city centre on Sunday 23 April.
Increasing need among British Muslims for essential poverty relief
The chief executive of the National Zakat Foundation Dr Sohail Hanif has said that there is an “ever-rising number of people asking for help.” He told the Islam Channel that during 2022, Muslims were submitting support applications to NZF at a rate of one person every 40 minutes, but last month, there was one application every 12 minutes. The Foundation distributed £6 million last year in programmes including hardship relief, housing assistance and work and education funds to help secure employment. Dr Hanif said people are realising the importance of community infrastructures as a safety net for people facing poverty.
Christians in the Holy Land experiencing frequent aggressive attack
The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Israel and surrounding areas, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has warned that the rise of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government has made life worse for Christians. In an interview with the Associated Press, he said the Christian community has come under increasing attack, with extremists harrassing clergy and vandalising religious property. The frequency and aggressiveness is new, he said, as the attackers they are protected “that the cultural and political atmosphere now can justify, or tolerate, actions against Christians.”
Orthodox Easter this weekend observed by Ukrainians in the UK
In the Orthodox church, Easter is observed this weekend, a week later than other Christian traditions, defined according to the Julian calendar to follow the first full moon after Passover. In the UK, Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox churches are planning traditional celebrations including the blessing of Easter baskets filled with food that families will eat after returning home from their service in church. The feast marks the end of a period when they have abstained from meat for 40 days. At the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Mayfair, London, the faithful will bring their baskets to be blessed tomorrow, Saturday 15 April.
Oxford support group for UK minority ethnic clergy
A ”chapter”, or gathering, of UK minority ethnic clergy has been set up in the diocese of Oxford as a support group dealing with particular issues such as racism, cultural differences and ministry. It also aims to provide preachers on request for parishes across the diocese. The Rev Polly Falconer, development enabler, said the chapter will provide a safe space to discuss sensitive issues, acting alongside existing deanery chapters.
Coronation exhibition opens at Lambeth Palace
An exhibition of church items related to coronations from Henry I in 1100 to Elizabeth II in 1953, has opened at the Lambeth Palace library. Highlights include the coronation charter of Henry I, the manuscript of the coronation service prepared for William III and Mary II and the Bible upon which Elizabeth II swore her coronation oath. Larger displays include the cope and mitre worn by Archbishop Fisher in 1953, and large banners from the 1902 coronation from which Archbishop Frederick Temple read because of failing eyesight.
Midnight cricket at Edgbaston for Muslims observing Ramadan
Birmingham Live reports that Edgbaston Cricket Centre comes alive at dusk as Muslims from across Birmingham take part in the Ramadan Midnight League. They say it’s a great way of enjoying the game during a month of fasting – the club has even laid on an iftar. This is the second year of the event and includes teams of six who play competitively but have created a community and is said top be one of only a handful of such events around England.
