RMC Weekly Round-up 5 December 2025

Image credit: FA

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Pope Leo appeals for peace and unity on his five day visit to Turkey and Lebanon. signing a declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew against violence in the name of religion >>
Pope Leo’s messages of peace to people in Lebanon, and signs of hope among young people >>
Pope Leo ends his visit to Turkey and Lebanon with a waterside Mass >>

Dublin City Council dropped plans to rename Herzog Park, named after former Israel president Chaim Herzog, who was raised in Dublin. Critics said the move would erase Jewish history in Ireland. The proposal was dropped as legally unsound >>.

One  year after the “Drumlanrig Accords”, where British Muslim and Jewish leaders affirmed a framework for reconciliation, Rabbi Josh Levy and Imam Dr Sayed Razawi debated what should happen next. Dr Razawi said the Accords “exist to prevent civic fracture before it happens” >>

A survey for the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life found that Britons are shifting both towards and away from faith affiliation. It suggested religion is diversifying, not disappearing: 39% moved to atheism or agnosticism, while 49% adopted a different faith tradition or spiritual path >>

The ancient Syro-Malankara Church from Kerala, India, is appointing its first bishop in Britain, to serve growing congregations which have developed largely due to NHS recruitment. Today, members will meet for a conference in Coventry to celebrate the bishop’s appointment. Catherine Pepinster’s report is here

The Guardian reported that Labour discussed proposing Assisted Dying via a private member’s bill, while they were in opposition, indicating the government is not neutral on the outcome. The Lords resume their debate today >>.

The FA is putting on a special Christmas event at Wembley stadium on Monday 8 December, showcasing the place of Christianity in the beautiful game,, with Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas interviewing players and coaches, and carols and prayers beside the pitch >> 

We are in the season of Advent, leading to Christmas Day – Tim Wyatt reports here >> And on Sunday 14 December, the Jewish festival of Hannukah starts – factsheet here >>


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Monday 1 December 2025

Pope Leo appeals for peace and unity on his five day visit to Turkey and Lebanon
Badenoch: ‘you can argue that welfare spending is un-Christian’
Proposal to rename Herzog Park in Dublin criticised as ‘disgraceful’
Impact of two child benefit cap on Muslim families
MCB outlines nationwide concerns raised by British Muslims
New Catholic bishop in Plymouth
Call for bishops to speed up same sex blessing plans
Work has begun to find an interim Bishop of Bangor
Bishop of Southwark to retire
Christmas with a grumpy owl and tasteless festive jumpers
Tuesday 2 December

Proposal to change name of Herzog park in Dublin is withdrawn
Heaton Park synagogue survivor says ‘normalising antisemitism’ must stop
Pope Leo’s messages of peace to people in Lebanon
Islamic Relief ships 12 tonnes of food aid to Indonesia cyclone survivors
Brother of Scottish man jailed in India ‘disappointed’ after latest meeting
Three Austrian nuns in their 80s win the right to stay in their convent
Waterloo memorial church in Chatham reopens after £4m revamp
Rubens painting of Christ crucified fetches €2.3 million
Wednesday 3 December

Chief Imam: ‘Choose dialogue to prevent civic fracture before it happens’
The changing landscape of faith in Britain
Pope Leo ends his visit to Turkey and Lebanon with a waterside Mass
Church Commissioners’ new rules to stop investment in oppressive regimes
Trial begins of Unification church leader in South Korea
German court bars Muslim woman wearing headscarf from being a judge
Margaret Court, tennis player now Pentecostal minister
Christians in Gaza prepare for Christmas
Run a Blue Christmas service to make single people feel welcome
Thursday 4 December

FA’s ‘Faith and Football’ Christmas event at Wembley
Lord Khan’s four point plan for government to harness power of faith in society
Report on the inner life of the Catholic Herald
Merger of three Christian groups exploring faith in society
£12.4 million for CofE racial justice and disability programmes
‘Unravelling world requires moral ambition to make goodness contagious’
Ancient Catholic church from India appoints first bishop to the UK
Friday 5 December

Labour discussed Assisted Dying private member’s bill before election
Public support for inclusive RE in Northern Ireland
Vatican decides against women deacons, but says this is not definitive
Equi calls for action to boost Muslim charitable giving
Compulsory antisemitism training for all BBC staff
Chief Rabbi accused of backing Israel over British Jews
Unite the Kingdom Christmas carol concert set for London

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