Pope Leo thanks hospital staff and those who have prayed for him
Pope Leo was discharged from hospital on Saturday after an operation to remove a cancerous growth in his right lung, and on Sunday he appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St Peter’s Square, to lead the Angelus prayer. He thanked the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Gemelli Hospital for their care and “all those who have prayed for me over these past few days”. He said: “I have truly felt your support. Thank you! This experience has allowed me to feel, in a particular way, a closeness to all those who are living through illness or a state of infirmity. Now that this delicate phase has passed—as you know—I will gradually resume my activities, always with the help of God and your prayers”. The Vatican has announced that Papal audiences have been cancelled until Tuesday 20 October. He is due to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on a 12 day visit starting on 6 November.
BBC religion cuts ‘undermine religious literacy’ at a time of critical importance
Joseph Kelly, long standing journalist now founder and editorial director of The Catholic Network, has criticised the BBC’s decision to make a significant budget cut to the Religion and Ethics department, in BBC Audio, Manchester, with The Daily Service facing a substantial cut and a possible move towards a digital format. In an editorial for The Catholic Network, he says the proposed cuts risk undermining public understanding of faith at a time when religious literacy is increasingly important. He says: “Whatever secularists in positions of civic authority may like to think, a religious outlook remains central to some of the most difficult political and humanitarian questions of our time, and understanding how faith functions and interprets the world is of critical importance in contemporary society.” He says the BBC must do more than chase audiences: its public-service role includes helping people understand beliefs even when they do not share them. The Daily Service, he says, is not simply for older listeners, people living alone or those unable to attend church, but a particular public service, which is at the heart of the BBC’s societal remit. He says: “Understanding faith is essential to understanding Britain and the wider world – and a public-service broadcaster that loses the expertise to cover religion properly will be much poorer for it, and so will its audience.” Read the full article here
British faith representatives join G20 Interfaith Forum in Salt Lake City
Hundreds of people of faith from around the world gathered at Salt Lake City for the three day “G20 Interfaith Forum”, where representatives discussed policy issues coming up at the G20 in Miami in December. The Forum was started in 2014 and meets every year, to bring religious groups together so they can share ideas to influence global policy agendas. It was hosted with significant support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the church’s president, Dallin H. Oaks, opened the event at the Tabernacle in Temple Square. Other keynote speakers were Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, who called on faith communities to work together in promoting peace, understanding and dignity; and Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, who highlighted the importance of human dignity, religious freedom and the common good. Under the title “Resilient Hope, Shared Future”, the conference discussed peace-making, economic growth, energy security, artificial intelligence, UN Sustainable Development Goals, human trafficking, mental health, education, disaster response, and freedom of religion or belief. There were 16 delegates listed from the UK including the former Bishop of Derby, Alastair Redfern; Husna Ahmad, University of Birmingham, CEO of Global One 2015 and Secretary-General of the World Muslim Leadership Forum; Kevin Hyland, former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner; Dr Sam Rushworth, MP Bishop Auckland; Lord Russell Rook, partner in the Good Faith Partnership; and Veena O’Sullivan, Programme Director IF20 2027 at Faith In The Future, Good Faith Foundation.
Nicky Gumbel elected to CofE general synod as full results are known today
The Rev Nicky Gumbel, pioneer of the Alpha Course and former vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, who is now Chair of Alpha International, has been elected to the general synod of the Church of England. In his election statement he said that evangelism should now be the “focus of the episcopacy and the governance of the Church of England”. All the results from votes for the General Synod, the Church of England’s parliament, will be known today. Some are already published and are compiled on Peter Owen’s website here. 409 elected places are involved: 200 in the House of Clergy, 200 in the House of Laity and nine suffragan bishops in the House of Bishops. The elections took place against a backdrop of divisions within the church over same-sex marriage. Other issues likely to come up in the next five years include safeguarding, church finances and the parish system, clergy discipline and morale, mission and growth, climate and social justice.
New teaching resource to bring authentic Muslim voices into RE lessons
A new RE Today resource to help schools teach pupils about Muslims and Islam is being launched today at the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester. “Understanding Muslims, Understanding Islam” provides classroom resources for pupils aged 5 – 14. The material is based on the expertise of academics, teachers and more than 60 Muslims in Britain and around the world. It draws on theology, history and sociology, and helps pupils learn how to interpret sources, ask well-founded questions and build an understanding of how different Muslims practise their faith in Britain and across the world. The resources aim to address shortcomings in the teaching of Islam identified in response to a 2024 RE subject report by Ofsted. A 2020 poll by the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education found that 25 percent of primary and secondary teachers lacked confidence in teaching Islam.
Reform activist suspended for reported comment that Muslims cannot be British
A member of Reform UK has been suspended after reportedly saying that you cannot be Muslim and British, in a film recorded for an undercover ITV report. A Reform party spokesperson said they are pursuing legal action against ITV and the production company. Reform said in a statement that there is no room for racism in the party, and it is investigating where activists or members had “clearly behaved inappropriately”.
Vatican Cardinal and religious leaders sign ‘Pledge for Peace’ in London
Representatives from the major world religions gathered in Westminster Cathedral Hall in London on Saturday, to meet the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, and to sign a pledge to work together for peace and human dignity. In it, they promised to build a more just, peaceful and fraternal world. They condemned “every attempt to invoke the name of God or religion to justify violence or war” and pledged to address the conditions “that give rise to hatred, extremism and conflict.”
