Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer
Pope Leo has been diagnosed with lung cancer, after surgery to remove part of his lower right lung.The Vatican said a lump was detected after routine tests and the whole lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung was removed “to ensure the procedure was radical”. AFP quotes s source saying the module was contained and had been caught at an early stage. He has had no symptoms or illness. The Pope, who is 71, was operated on at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome in a procedure which lasted 90 minutes. Crowds greeted him as he walked swiftly to the hospital door.
Andy Burnham considering visit to the Vatican in the spring
The Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering a visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Leo XIV in the spring, one of the pontiff’s most senior officials said last night. Archbishop Sir Paul Gallagher said that Burnham, who was raised Catholic, has expressed enthusiasm for the trip to Rome. Giving The Tablet lecture on diplomacy and peace, he said that Burnham’s Catholic background makes a difference to relations with the Catholic Church. Having a Catholic as a political leader is significant, he said, because they are comfortable with Catholic Social Teaching concepts such as subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good. Gallagher was knighted by the King after his historic visit to Vatican last year, when he prayed with Pope Leo. He has spent 12 years as the Holy See’s minister for relations with states, and, like Burnham, he was raised in Liverpool and influenced in his early years by the Archbishop of Liverpool, Derek Warlock. After studying for the priesthood and serving as a parish priest in the Liverpool neighbourhood of Fazakerley, he joined the Holy See’s diplomatic service, serving across the globe. His lecture also touched on Vatican diplomacy and Russia, relations with the Ukraine and divisions within the Catholic Church in the US, as well as business and politicians calling on the Church to offer a moral lead on AI. Archbishop Gallagher spoke as it was announced that the Pope had cancer. He said that the Pope’s health issues revealed him as “vulnerable like the rest of us”. This report is by Catherine Pepinster. A longer piece will be published later today.
Priest and churchwarden take legal action against CofE ‘Project Spire’
The Times reports that a priest and a churchwarden are spearheading a legal challenge to Project Spire, the Church of England’s £100m slavery reparations fund, which would provide grants to projects addressing racial inequalities linked to the Church’s historic involvement in the slave trade. The Rev Jamie Franklin and barrister Bijan Omrani argue that the fund falls outside the Church Commissioners’ charitable purpose of supporting the Church’s mission and ministry. They have applied to the Charity Commission for permission to bring proceedings in the Chancery Division of the High Court, with a decision expected soon. They say the money would be better spent supporting struggling parishes and overstretched clergy. The Church Commissioners say the money would come from their endowment, not parish income or collections, and would represent Christian repentance and responsible stewardship.
Consecration of Bishop of Warwick postponed after complaints
The consecration of Canon Tim Lomax as the next Suffragan Bishop of Warwick, due to take place on 6 November, has been postponed after complaints were received. A statement from the Diocese of Coventry, which includes Warwick, says: “It should be stressed that at this early stage no findings have been made and no conclusions have been reached” and stresses that all concerned are receiving appropriate support. The Church Times reports that the National Safeguarding Team is making further inquiries, adding that “the complaints do not relate to children or young people and do not concern Soul Survivor, where Canon Lomax served as Visitor.” Canon Lomax is currently a residentiary canon of St Albans.
Churches urged to tackle causes, not just symptoms, of poverty
A study by the Christian charity “Together for the Common Good” is calling for a rethink of Christian social action, arguing that churches must move beyond providing emergency help to tackling the causes of poverty. The four-month study, “The Crossroads Initiative: Discerning the future direction for Christian Social Action”, involved 73 church leaders, theologians and frontline workers. It identifies three priorities: challenging unjust systems that perpetuate poverty rather than simply treating its symptoms; empowering people to build independence and mutual support rather than creating long-term dependency; and strengthening Christian identity, restoring the theological foundations of social action and greater confidence in the faith motivating it. Participants also questioned whether the state relies too heavily on churches to fill gaps in services. The next phase, subject to funding, will develop practical frameworks to help churches and charities build stronger, more resilient communities.
Muslim Council of Britain says response to anti Muslim violence is ‘long overdue’
The Muslim Council of Britain has responded to MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum’s warning that anti-immigration and anti-Muslim grievances are increasingly tipping into terrorist intent. He said extreme-right terrorism was often driven by online radicalisation and skewed towards young people, revealing that MI5 had recently investigated a radicalised 13-year-old. The MCB says a response to anti-Muslim violence is long overdue. It lists a series of attacks on Muslim communities, including mosque bombings, violence against worshippers and threats against Islamic centres, and asks: “how many families are terrorised before we stop talking about this as an emerging threat”.
United Synagogue chief exec moves to Jewish foundation
Jo Grose, the first female chief executive of the United Synagogue, is leaving after nearly four years in the role to become joint chief executive (UK) of the Wohl Legacy, a major Jewish philanthropic foundation. It supports Jewish communities and wider society in the UK, Israel and Europe, in education, welfare, employment and medical research. Jo Grose has been at United Synagogue since 2015 and was once Director of Communities and strategy. United Synagogue president Saul Taylor described her as one of the most inspirational Jewish professional leaders of her generation.
First female senior rabbi at Progressive Judaism’s largest synagogue
Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers has been appointed as the first female senior rabbi at Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue. It’s the largest synagogue in the Movement for Progressive Judaism, with approximately 1,900 families as part of its membership. Rabbi Debbie is known for her interfaith work, contributions to BBC Radio 2’s Pause for Thought and as a trustee of Faith for the Climate. Jewish News report here.
RMC Briefing: Beyond Christian Nationalism
Our briefing on the Theos report “Beyond Christian Nationalism” is published on our YouTube channel and as a podcast. The report found the group displaying Christian nationalist views represented 11 per cent of the population, but only 13 per cent of them attend church weekly. Rosie Dawson hosted with guests including report co-author Nick Spencer, Dr Robert P Jones of the US based PRRI, Dr Maria Power, of Blackfriars Hall; Prof John Heathershaw, the University of Exeter and Bristol Baptist College; and Dr Anne-Marie Kramer, of the University of Nottingham. Links to the briefing will be published here
