Pope Leo says he is following ‘alarming situation in Ceuta’
Pope Leo has expressed concern over the mass surge of migration from Morocco into the bordering autonomous Spanish city of Ceuta. An estimated 60,000 people swam six miles and scrambled over rocks, or walked across the border within 48 hours, hoping to claim asylum. But most have returned to Morocco and an estimated 2,000 remain in the city. 72 people have died either by drowning or being crushed in the crowds. Following the recitation of the Angelus prayer on Sunday at the Vatican, the Pope, speaking in Spanish, said “I follow with concern the alarming situation in Ceuta, asking God, through the intercession of Our Lady of Africa, that solutions of peace, stability, and justice may be found.”
Amnesty International UK apologises for report labelling groups ‘anti-rights’
Amnesty International UK has issued an apology for publishing a report which labelled 117 groups as “anti-rights” because of their views on life, marriage and biological sex. Eleven Christian organisations complained, including the Premier Christian Media Trust and the Evangelical Alliance. In a statement released on Friday, Amnesty said: “We apologise for the publication of the briefing ‘A growing threat: the anti-rights movement in the UK’. This document should never have been published, and full responsibility for this error rests with Amnesty International UK. The briefing was taken down within 48 hours of publication, as soon as management were notified of its existence, was not actively promoted, and will not be republished. We have an ongoing internal investigation into how this briefing came to be published”. The statement continued that the labelling does not represent its “institutional position” and an independent external review will be commissioned. Full statement is here.
Boy George withdrawn from playing the role of Herod in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
Boy George has withdrawn from playing the role of Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium, following a backlash against his new track “We Will Dance Again” which refutes the idea of genocide in Gaza. The opening lyrics are: “You say genocide, I say war. When you’re attacked, that’s what the army’s for”. His manager, Paul Kemsley, said on Instagram: “After careful consideration, I have decided, in my capacity as Boy George’s manager, that he will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium…. In this instance, I felt it was right to step aside, allowing the production to remain the focus, while ensuring everyone involved can move forward with mutual respect and goodwill.” Boy George was one of six well known stars sharing the role of King Herod in the production and was due to appear from 3 – 15 August. The production ends on 5 September.
Attendance at Church of England Cathedral services rises for fifth year running
Adult Sunday attendance at Church of England Cathedrals was up by eight per cent compared to 2024, but still not back to pre-pandemic levels. Numbers for attendance, participation, and engagement were higher in 2025 than in 2024, but lower than in 2019 overall. There was also a six per cent overall increase in Christmas attendance and five per cent rise in Easter attendance, drawing level with pre-pandemic levels for the first time. The figures show the number of choirs in Cathedrals rose to a record high of 208, mainly due to a big rise over the last decade of mixed choirs. Story is here.
Dr Toby Howarth is new CofE Bishop of Leeds
The Bishop of Bradford, Toby Howarth, has been appointed as the new Bishop of Leeds, a role has been fulfilling in an interim capacity since Bishop Nick Baines retired last year. He is known for his commitment to interfaith relations, at one time serving as inter-religious affairs secretary for the Archbishop of Canterbury. His MA was in Islamic Studies and his doctorate in Islamic preaching, with his ministry taking him to London, Derby, India, Rotterdam, Birmingham and Bradford. Before training for the ministry, he worked as a postman. Leeds is one of the largest dioceses in England with three cathedrals and three minsters in Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Ripon and Wakefield. To mark the announcement, Bishop Toby climbed Great Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales, one of the highest points in the diocese, saying the area was “vast, varied and wonderful”.
More ‘denominational recycling’ than Quiet Revival in Catholic Church
Three academics have analysed the reasons why there has been a recent surge in baptisms and membership of the Catholic church and have found evidence of a flow of ‘denominational recycling’, rather than a quiet revival. Professors Francis Davis, Leslie Francis and Andrew Village surveyed 700 people received into the Catholic church at Easter. 53 per cent were baptised as infants of whom 29 per cent were Catholic. 49 per cent were Anglican, six per cent Presbyterian and six per cent Methodist. The survey found 57 per cent came from a professional background, and 26 per cent had postgraduate qualifications. Prof Francis Davis concluded that new converts will need “stretching modes of support”, they want to be engaged in spiritual and community activities, parish clergy are vital in their formation and ecumenical engagement is needed. Independent Catholic News report here
Two new senior appointments at Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace has announced two appointments to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s senior team. The new Chief of Staff is Becky Clark, former Director of the Cathedral and Church Buildings team at the National Church Institutions, who has spent the past four years as Director of Development and Commercial Services for the Falkland Islands Government. And the new Chief Operating Officer for Lambeth Palace, a new role, is Anna Dulic-Sills, currently the Chief Corporate Officer at the University of Brighton, and former COO at Queen Mary, University of London, and St George’s, University of London, where she was Chief Operating Officer. Ruth Dickinson, who has led the senior team at Lambeth Palace since June 2025 as Executive Director (interim), will take up a six-month secondment to help establish a new strategy and engagement function for the Church Commissioners.
