This is our weekly newsletter of religion news and updates about the Religion Media Centre, which we post every Friday afternoon.
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Pope Francis was laid to rest in Santa Maria Maggiore, with a simple stone tomb. 250,000 people gathered in and around St Peter’s Square in Rome for his funeral last weekend. The BBC captured the day in pictures here>> “Mischievous, kind, extraordinarily empathetic: The Pope I knew supported me even at my lowest hour”, by Justin Welby in Anglican Ink
Thousands visit Pope Francis’ tomb as Vatican enters nine days of mourning >>
The iconic picture of Trump and Zelensky – Pope Francis’ last miracle >>
Cardinal Battista: ‘He was a Pope among the people’ >>
Cardinal Nichols: ‘Pope Francis isn’t disappearing into nothing’ >>
Cardinals are meeting in Rome, preparing to vote for the next Pope at the conclave beginning on Weds 7 May
- Date set for conclave to elect new Pope >>
- Betting odds favour Cardinal Parolin >>
- How US ‘Maga Catholics’ are lobbying to influence the conclave’s vote >>
- Cardinal Becciu will not take part in conclave to select the next Pope >>
In our Religion Media Centre briefing, journalists and church members gave their views on the likely candidates, the key issues they will be required to address and the character they are looking for to take over from Pope Francis. The ideal next Pope will be a leader, administrator, pastor and great communicator. View the briefing or listen to the podcast through links here
More comment on the election of the next Pope
- “Mischievous, kind, extraordinarily empathetic: The Pope I knew supported me even at my lowest hour”, by Justin Welby in The Independent
- “Who will be the next pope? The candidates who could succeed Francis”, article in The Times by Tom Kington in Rome
- “How long will the conclave last — and when was the longest one?” , another Times article by Tom Kington
- “There is a cancer at the heart of the Catholic Church and Francis’s successor must tackle it” , a reference to child sex abuse. Artricle by Peter Stanford in The Telegraph
- “Fist fights, ghostly pranks and schism: a brief history of conclaves past”, by Harriet Sherwood in The Guardian
- Martin Scorse announced that he is making a documentary featuring conversations with Pope Francis: “Aldeas – A New Story”, the story of an organisation for young people. Guardian story here
- “Is Cardinal Sarah the man to save the Church as the next pope?”, by Gavin Ashenden in the Catholic Herald
Faith Minister Lord Khan has given strong support for Interfaith Week, held each November to foster dialogue among faiths. After the Interfaith Network closed due to funding cuts, supporters regrouped to continue the effort. At Parliament’s launch of a report into enhancing Interfaith Week – Bursting the Bubble by Warwick Hawkins and Sophie Mitchell – Lord Khan stressed interfaith work’s role in unity and cohesion. A new steering group will seek funding. On government support, the reply was, “many decisions have to be taken.”
Interviews with Cathy Newman, Channel 4 news; Lord Russell Rook, adviser to the Faith Minister; and Sir Mark Thompson CEO of CNN and former BBC Director General.
Panels on British Muslims; Community Relations and the Media; British Media and British Jews; and Millenials, Faith and the Digital Space.
Other news…
| CofE bishops review issues for CofE women clergy >> St George’s Day re-assigned in church calendars to Monday 28 April >> Church services, prayers and bell ringing on 80th anniversary of VE Day >> New Lords’ role for Bishop of Manchester >> Faith of the saints in north of England re-told in church initiative >> Scottish Episcopal church to discuss closer working with Catholics >> Kissing ban the ‘bizarre’ feature of Covid weddings in Scotland >> New initiative to encourage people to go on pilgrimages >> Christian Aid re-organisation plans will slash jobs >> Chaplaincy team concerned at Supreme Court ruling >> Vaccination warning to Umrah and Hajj pilgrims >> Kashmir dispute spills over in London >> KeshetUK withdraws from London Pride event on safety grounds >> Prominent activist cleric arrested for praying in the US Capitol Rotunda >> Martin Luther King campaign church severely damaged by fire >> UK dignitaries mark liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp >> Church services, prayers and bell ringing on 80th anniversary of VE Day >> Harvard reports reveal antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred, fear and exclusion >> French Parliament holds a minute’s silence for man murdered in a mosque >> US Supreme Court battle over publicly funded religious schools >> Southern Baptists see more baptisms, but continuing decline >> Nigeria youth ‘moving away from Christianity’ towards indigenous religion > |
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