Putin using Russian Orthodox Church to repress religion, panel says

 

Panelists take part in the affiliated session “The Kremlin’s Use of the Russian Orthodox Church in the War Against Ukraine,” sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy, during the International Religious Freedom Summit on Feb. 3, examining how religious institutions are being instrumentalized by the Russian state to justify war and suppress dissent at home and abroad. 

The regime of Vladimir Putin is using the Russian Orthodox Church in efforts to repress other faiths not only in Ukraine and other foreign countries but within Russia’s borders, clergy and rights defenders said.

Dmytro Koval, co-director of Truth Hounds, a Ukrainian human rights organization documenting Russian crimes in Ukraine, told participants at the International Religious Freedom Summit on Feb. 3 that Kremlin use of the Russian Orthodox Church goes back to early years of occupation in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and prior.

“There were for instance units called the Russian Orthodox Army, and it’s institutionally connected to the Russian Orthodox Church,” Koval said. “And these units, again, they practically realized this doctrine of a Russian world and this new Russian imperialism, this new Russian attempt to rebuild the empire, either Soviet or Russian; these forces showed us how the church is used and how it’ll be used in the future to come.”

The Russian Orthodox Army, a Russian separatist paramilitary group founded in 2014 fighting Ukrainian forces in Donbas, was reportedly later absorbed into the Oplot Fifth Separate Infantry Brigade. It is used to mobilize the Russian population and Russians in the occupied territory to take active part in the war and give their lives for the causes of the Kremlin, Koval said.

“What is quite interesting is the language used in the Russian Orthodox Army – they were talking about crusade, but in their imagination that crusade had its enemy not only in Ukraine but also in the West,” Koval said. “So basically, the crusade had to continue beyond Ukraine in Western Europe, but also the U.S. was always mentioned.”

Understanding how Russian occupation has impacted religious freedom – including killing of church leaders and other Christians and closing churches – is key to understanding Ukrainian resilience and opposition to “so-called peace talks” with Russia, he said.

“One of the reasons why Ukraine is so unapologetic regarding [opposition to] any territorial deals, it’s because Ukraine is fighting not for territory, but for people,” Koval said. “And very much was learned from this eight to 10 years’ experience of occupation before the full scale invasion – what the occupation actually means for people, including what it means for the freedom of the region.”

Russia has long wanted to repress religion beyond its borders, as a 2017 U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom report noted, he said.

“What is sad in that report is that Russia is one of the few states that is not only organizing repressions in the country, but it’s also exporting religious persecution,” he said.

 

Dr. Dmytro Koval (right), co-director of the Ukrainian human rights group Truth Hounds, speaks during the International Religious Freedom Summit on Feb. 3 about the Kremlin’s use of the Russian Orthodox Church to legitimize occupation and repression in Ukraine, describing how religious language and institutions have been mobilized to advance Russian imperial ideology. 

 “One of the reasons why Ukraine is so unapologetic regarding [opposition to] any territorial deals, it’s because Ukraine is fighting not for territory, but for people,” Koval said. “And very much was learned from this eight to 10 years’ experience of occupation before the full scale invasion – what the occupation actually means for people, including what it means for the freedom of the region.”

Russia has long wanted to repress religion beyond its borders, as a 2017 U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom report noted, he said.

“What is sad in that report is that Russia is one of the few states that is not only organizing repressions in the country, but it’s also exporting religious persecution,” he said.

Dr. Vira Iastrebova, director of the Eastern Human Rights Group, addresses participants at the International Religious Freedom Summit on Feb. 3, warning that the Russian Orthodox Church is being used to militarize children and youth through paramilitary camps that combine weapons training with ideological indoctrination. 

Vira Iastrebova, director of the Eastern Human Rights Group, told the summit that the Russian Orthodox Church has become a tool of militarizing young people by implementing various youth programs and paramilitary clubs.

“One is called Camps, Et cetera; one is called Orthodox Warriors,” Iastrebova said. “And in those camps and programs, children are trained to use firearms and also are indoctrinated in ideologies of hatred and violence. Understandably, this is going to have very grave consequences for the future that we must take into account as we focus our attention on reunification of Ukraine’s territories and working towards better freedoms for all people of faith.”

The Rev. Andrey Kordochkin, a Russian Orthodox priest based in Europe who was sanctioned and suspended from the Moscow patriarchate after co-authoring an open letter condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, told participants that the Kremlin’s use of the patriarchate goes as far as propaganda found in official prayers.

“If you look at the text of the prayer which was introduced in September 2022, you can see that liturgically, it has a form of a prayer, but in fact it’s political declaration,” Kordochkin said, noting that it implicitly denies the existence of Ukraine as a country. “Then this prayer also presents Russia not as an aggressor but as a victim of some hostile forces that had wanted to destroy it in a conspiracy kind of mindset.”

Most importantly, he said, the liturgical prayer speaks about victory rather than reconciliation. A priest obliged to read the prayer changed the word “victory” to “peace” and was defrocked, he said.

 

The Rev. Andrey Kordochkin, a Russian Orthodox priest suspended by the Moscow patriarchate for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, speaks at the International Religious Freedom Summit on Feb. 3, criticizing state-mandated prayers that frame the war as a sacred struggle and punish clergy who call for peace rather than victory. 

“Now a spokesman for the Moscow patriarchate, when he was asked by a journalist whether these punishments upon these priests are not too cruel, said, ‘Well, the church is like the army. If people in the army give an oath and if they do something that goes contrary to it, they have to pay the price, and the priest and the deacons before they’re being ordained, they also give this oath.’ So, the patriarchate itself is describing itself in kind of paramilitary terms.”

Recently Moscow Patriarch Kirill said those who question the national consensus in Russia should be treated as betrayers of the motherland, Kordochkin noted.

“Now, betrayal of motherland is not a moral term, it’s a legal term because it’s a criminal article which implies punishment up to a death sentence,” he said. “So, you can see this repressive symphony in both the church institution and the state.”

 

Christians in Nigeria live in fear amid kidnappings, killings

 

The Rev. Bobbo Paschal, Catholic priest released
from captivity in Kaduna state, Nigeria on Jan. 17, 2026.

 

Christians in a village in Nigeria remain traumatized by violence even as a priest held hostage for 61 days was released last month, sources said.

The Rev. Bobbo Paschal of St. Stephen Catholic Parish in Kushe Gugdu village, Kagarko County, Kaduna state was released on Jan. 17 after terrorists kidnapped him on Nov. 17, according to the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna.

Innocent Yakubu, a community leader in Kushe Gugdu, close to Kubacha, said Fulani herdsmen invaded the village and killed another Christian on the day they kidnapped Paschal.

“It has thrown the entire community into fear, sorrow, and uncertainty “The entire community remains traumatized as we continue to search for safety that no longer exists.”

In the kidnapping of Paschal as he prepared for the morning Mass in the early hours of Nov. 17, church member Gideon Markus was killed and two other congregants were kidnapped and remain in captivity, according to leaders of the archdiocese.

Yakubu said the village has suffered repeated attacks by Fulani assailants for many years that have claimed lives and destroyed livelihoods, he said. 

“Christians here now live in constant fear because violence has become a recurring nightmare,” Yakubu said. “Our land is bleeding, our hearts are broken and our communities are losing hope.”

The kidnapping of Paschal was not the first time a priest or resident has been abducted in Kushe and surrounding villages, he said.  

Sunday Audu, another area resident, said herdsmen in late January and early February also attacked Aribi, Ungwan Pah, Dogon Daji and Kurmin Lemu villages.

The 166 Christians kidnapped by armed Muslim terrorists in Kurmin Wali village, Kaduna state were released in the early hours of Thursday (Feb. 5), the Rev. Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern Nigeria chapter, said in a statement.

“All the 166 Christians kidnapped by terrorists in Kurmin Wali community have now been released,” Hayab said. “They are currently being attended to in a military hospital, after which they will be transferred to the Kaduna State Government and subsequently, to be released to their families.”

The Christian leader, a Baptist pastor, said no ransom was paid by churches for the release of the captives, but that the government that handled the negotiations with the terrorists.

The Christians were kidnapped on Jan. 18 while attending church worship services.

Congressional Hearing

At a hearing of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 4, religious liberty advocates spoke of recurring killings, abductions and mass displacement in Nigeria.

Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback described Nigeria as a frontline of global terrorism with militant Islamist groups expanding their attacks across Africa and the Middle East.

“The deadliest place on the planet to be a Christian is Nigeria; early warning signs of a Muslim-on-Christian war are emerging across Africa, and Nigeria sits at the center of that danger,” Brownback said.

Radical, militant Islam continues its “purification efforts” throughout the Middle East North Africa region and beyond, he said. “Syria and Nigeria are key focus areas in their quest for dominance, excluding all other faiths.”

Stephen Schneck, former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (2024 to 2025), said at the hearing that freedom of religious expression is facing a global crisis propelled by authoritarianism, religious nationalism and weak state institutions.

“Nigeria, Syria and Sudan are examples of countries where poor governance and widespread insecurity have created dangerous conditions for communities of faith,” Schneck said.

Committee Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) recommended the U.S. address the “culture of denial” by Nigerian officials despite mass killings of Christians by Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Fulani militants; sustain and enforce the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC); apply International Religious Freedom Act policy tools such as sanctions, economic penalties against Nigerian entities enabling or tolerating religious freedom violations; compel Nigeria to protect Christians and moderate Muslims from religiously motivated violence; urge Nigerian authorities to prosecute perpetrators and prevent attacks in Christian communities; and monitor and curb influence by China, Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which are exacerbating instability in Nigeria.

At the same time, a petition by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) before the United Nations on genocide against Christians in Nigeria received wide acceptance within 16 hours of its filing, according to ACLJ President and CEO Jordan Sekulow.

Within a day of the petition being posted on the ACLJ website, more than 517,000 signatures have been gathered, with the target of 750,000 signatures expected.

Saying 90 percent of all Christians killed worldwide are in Nigeria, Sekulow said Christians live in a constant state of terror, fearing abduction, torture and murder by radical Islamic jihadists, including Fulani herdsmen.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

“They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity,” the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians’ lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

More Christians were killed in Nigeria than in any other country from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025, according to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List. Of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for their faith during that period, 3,490 – 72 percent – were Nigerians, an increase from 3,100 the prior year. Nigeria ranked No. 7 on the WWL list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.  

In the country’s North-Central zone, where Christians are more common than they are in the North-East and North-West, Islamic extremist Fulani militia attack farming communities, killing many hundreds, Christians above all, according to the report. Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the splinter group Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), among others, are also active in the country’s northern states, where federal government control is scant and Christians and their communities continue to be the targets of raids, sexual violence, and roadblock killings, according to the report. Abductions for ransom have increased considerably in recent years.

The violence has spread to southern states, and a new jihadist terror group, Lakurawa, has emerged in the northwest, armed with advanced weaponry and a radical Islamist agenda, the WWL noted. Lakurawa is affiliated with the expansionist Al-Qaeda insurgency Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM, originating in Mali.

 

American missionary accuses Benue government of attempting to sabotage his plans of rebuilding Yelwata village which was attacked by bandits

An American missionary has accused the Benue State Government of deliberately obstructing his efforts to rebuild Yelwata village, which was recently attacked by bandits.

According to him, he attempted to construct a market for the people of Yelwata, but the government rejected the proposal and instead sent him a market blueprint valued at ₦300 million. He insists the project can be completed for no more than ₦60 million.

He also claimed that there’s no market in any Nigerian village that is worth N300m. 

The missionary further alleged that certain individuals are exploiting the suffering of Benue indigence affected by bandit attacks for personal gain.

 

Bandits kill three, abduct Catholic priest and 10 others in Kaduna

 

Suspected bandits abducted a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, 10 villagers and k!lled three others during an early morning attack on Karku community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. 

Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku and other victims were kidnapped around 3:20am on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

According to residents, the heavily armed terrorists stormed the community, shot sporadically and whisked their victims away.

The Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Jacob Shanet, confirmed the abduction in a statement on Saturday, calling on Christians and people of goodwill to pray for the victims.

“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, with deep sorrow, we announce the kidnapping of our priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku, Kauru LGA of Kaduna State,” Shanet said

He added that the priest was abducted alongside 10 other residents during the attack, which left three people d3ad. The deceased were identified as Jacob Dan’azumi, Maitala Kaura and Alhaji Kusari.

According to the diocese, the attackers invaded the priest’s residence and nearby homes, leaving the community in shock and fear.

“This terrible event has resulted in the killing of three people, aside from those abducted,” the statement read. 

The diocese urged prayers for the safe release of the abducted victims.

“We invite all priests, Christian faithful and men and women of goodwill to pray for Fr Nathaniel, the other abducted persons and for the repose of the souls of those killed.” 

Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Joseph Hayab, described the attack as another grim reminder of the worsening security situation in the region 

“This is a sad story. The kidnapping of Christian priests and innocent citizens is becoming unbearable despite all efforts to curb this evil,” Hayab said

Security sources at the Kaduna State Police Command said a joint team of the military and police had engaged the attackers in gun battles in the Kauru axis.

 

Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes Prince and Princess of Wales to Lambeth Palace

 

The Prince and Princess of Wales have visited the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Sarah Mullally at Lambeth Palace, her new office and residence.

A statement from Lambeth Palace said they discussed the contribution of churches around the country to their communities, and the Prince and Princess’s work through The Royal Foundation.

The visit followed Archbishop Sarah paying homage to His Majesty the King as Supreme Governor of the Church of England at Buckingham Palace earlier this week.

Archbishop Sarah said: “It was a privilege to welcome the Prince and Princess of Wales to Lambeth Palace today. I know we hold the same hope for a better world and I look forward to working together in the years to come. I will continue to hold them and their family in my prayers.”

Archbishop Sarah was confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul’s Cathedral last week. She will be installed at Canterbury Cathedral next month, in a service that will mark the start of her public ministry.

Kensington Palace has confirmed that the Prince of Wales will represent the King at the Installation on 25th March, the Feast of the Annunciation.

 

Archbishop of York urges action on Iran internet blackout amid humanitarian fears

 

The Archbishop of York has raised urgent humanitarian concerns in the House of Lords over the situation in Iran, calling on the UK Government to press for the restoration of internet access in the country.

Speaking during questions in the Upper Chamber on Thursday, the Most Rev and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell said there was deep uncertainty over the true human cost of the crackdown in Iran.

“We don’t know how many people have died. We don’t know how many people are injured. We don’t know how many people are missing,” he said. “What we do know is the internet has been brought down in Iran.”

The archbishop stressed that restoring internet access would allow families to contact one another, and gain a clearer understanding of events unfolding on the ground.

“Simply the restoration of the internet would allow family members to be in touch, to seek those who are missing, to know more of what is happening,” he told peers. “That would bring some solace to so many deeply hurting families in this appalling situation.”

Responding on behalf of the Government, Baroness Chapman, Minister of State for Development, acknowledged the lack of reliable information and warned that the full scale of the violence may yet emerge.

She said estimates of the death toll ranged from around 3,000 to “many, many more”, adding: “As information does emerge, we will be horrified at what is revealed.”

Baroness Chapman agreed with the archbishop on the importance of communications, describing access to the internet as “vital” in moments of crisis.

“We want as much as anybody to see that restored,” she said. “There is a reason these things are removed by regimes at moments like this, and it’s not difficult to work out what that is. It’s about hiding what’s happening.”

The US and Iran are due to hold talks in Oman on Friday after Tehran requested a change of venue to limit negotiations to its nuclear programme, a regional official said.

Iran has said it will not make concessions on its formidable ballistic missile programme, one of the biggest in the Middle East, calling that a red line in negotiations.

 

All 166 worshippers abducted in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state freed, Christian group says

 

 

All 166 worshipers kidnapped during attacks on two churches in Kurmin Wali in northern Nigeria's Kaduna state last month have been released, the Christian Association of Nigeria said on Thursday.

Reverend John Hayab, chairman of the northern chapter of CAN, said every abducted worshiper had now returned, without giving details on whether a ransom was paid or how the release was secured.

CAN leader in Kaduna, Reverend Caleb Ma’aji, also confirmed the release, saying he just returned from the government house in Kaduna where the governor is set to receive the worshipers.

"The stage is set for them to be brought... His Excellency will meet with them. This is a result of the prayers we have offered,” he said.

Nigerian government officials have yet to comment publicly on the release.

The assault on the Kaduna churches was among the latest in a string of mass abductions that has intensified pressure on the Nigerian government. Nigeria has also faced scrutiny from US President Donald Trump, who has accused the country of failing to stop the persecution of Christians. US forces struck what they described as terrorist targets on December 25.

Abuja says it is working with Washington to improve security and denies any systematic persecution of Christians.

 

'Angel Meloni' scrubbed off Rome church painting on priest's orders

 

 

An angel restored with the face of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been scrubbed off a wall painting in a central Rome church on the orders of the parish priest, following a political and clerical uproar.

One of two angels in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina, close to government headquarters, was altered to look virtually identical to the 49-year-old right-wing leader, Italy's first woman premier.

The image was spotted on Saturday by centre-left newspaper la Repubblica and stirred outrage among opposition figures and irritation from Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar General for the diocese of Rome.

When the church opened on Wednesday, the Meloni-like face had been painted over, leaving the angel headless.

"I always said that if (the Meloni image) proved divisive we would remove it," the church priest Daniele Micheletti said.

"There was a procession of people that came to see it instead of listening to Mass or praying. It wasn't acceptable."

The amateur artist who restored the painting, Bruno Valentinetti, was quoted by Repubblica on Wednesday as saying he had been asked to erase it by the Vatican.

A spokesperson for the Holy See declined to comment. The Rome diocese said it would release a statement later.

On Saturday, Cardinal Reina expressed "bitterness" over the incident, ordered an investigation and warned that "images of sacred art and Christian tradition cannot be misused or exploited".

The Italian Culture Ministry also announced an inquiry, while Meloni laughed off the incident. She posted a picture of the disputed painting on Instagram, with the caption "No, I definitely don't look like an angel", and a laughing emoji.

The altered wall painting was done in 2000, and is not under any heritage protection. Valentinetti is its original author and was asked to restore it to fix water damage, priest Micheletti said.

 

Christian persecution watchdog encourages Guardiola to speak about Sudan atrocities with Man City owners

Guardiola

A Christian human rights watchdog has welcomed Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking out about atrocities in Sudan, encouraging him to raise awareness of the conflict with the club’s ownership. 

At a pre-match press conference, Guardiola said he wants to use his voice to “speak up to be a better society”.

He shared that footage he has seen from conflict zones “hurts me”, referencing Palestine, Ukraine and Sudan; expressing a particular heart for the children killed and injured. 

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has said Guardiola “is in a unique and difficult position” because of Manchester City’s association to the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of supporting the war in Sudan. 

More than 30 million people, including 15 million children, are in need of support in Sudan, according to CSW. At least 150,000 people have been killed. 

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been in armed conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia group. The UAE has been criticised for its support of the RSF.

Manchester City is owned by Sheikh Mansour, vice president of the UAE and member of the Abu Dhabi ruling family.

A spokesperson for CSW told Premier Christian News: “CSW is encouraged to hear Pep Guardiola speaking up about the situation in Sudan and other injustices taking place around the world today. 

“His comments are correct; we are living in times where images of atrocities are shared widely and often by the perpetrators, as occurred in Sudan last October, when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El Fasher. We can no longer claim to be unaware of the human toll of such conflicts.

“However, Mr Guardiola is in a unique and difficult position. 

“Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the owner of the club he works for, is the deputy prime minister and vice president of the United Arab Emirates, and is credibly implicated in supporting the RSF, thereby fuelling the war and prolonging the suffering of, the people of Sudan.

“We would encourage Mr Guardiola to raise awareness of this conflict publicly, within his own club and across the Premier League. It also shows the importance of CSW's Eyes on Sudan campaign.

“We are not targeting the players, staff, or fans of any team; we are trying to hold those fuelling conflicts to account, with the ultimate hope of seeing an end to the war in Sudan.”

In 2023, clubs approved new rules which disqualifies people involved in “human rights abuse” from ownership.

CSW has called on the Premier League to “uphold its obligations to prevent human rights abuses” by raising this issue with Sheikh Mansour and insisting the UAE provide humanitarian support. 

Concerns about the involvement of Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, a UAE government official and chairman of Manchester City, in Donald Trump's Board of Peace have also been raised by CSW. 

Guardiola was absent from media duties last week, a day after appearing at a charity concert supporting Palestinian children in Barcelona, his home city. 

 

Next Presbyterian Moderator vows to 'rebuild trust' in Ireland's church

 

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has announced that its next Moderator will be Rev Richard Kerr, the minister of Temple patrick Presbyterian Church in County Antrim.

Rev Kerr who served as a mission worker in Malawi for over a decade, will be the 26th Moderator to come from a County Antrim congregation and the 180th person to hold PCI’s highest office since the establishment of the Church in 1840.

He will be formally elected as Moderator by the Church’s General Assembly in June. The current Moderator Rt Rev Dr Richard Murray has only been in post since December 2025 when he took over from Rt Rev Dr Trevor Gribben who had resigned the previous month following an internal investigation which uncovered “serious and significant failings” in the Church’s safeguarding functions spanning more than a decade. Dr Gribben apologised “unreservedly” for the major shortcomings in the Church’s central safeguarding systems between 2009 and 2022, which had placed people at risk.

Sixty-year-old Rev Kerr, who is a grandfather of four, received the most votes in a second round of voting, having tied initially with Rev Ker Graham, minister of Clarkesbridge & First New town Hamilton Presbyterian Church, Garmany’s Grove and McKelvey’s Grove Presbyterian Churches.

Rev Kerr said: “I feel deeply humbled, and I’m very conscious that I cannot do this by myself, or in my own strength. I pray that God’s Spirit will grant me the wisdom and guidance that I will need to reflect His mission to the Church, wider society and our global community. I also recognise that I serve in partnership with God’s people who’ve elected me, and their prayers and support I deeply value as I seek to serve God faithfully in the year ahead.

“I’m also conscious of the significant central church failings in safeguarding that came to light last year, and my heart goes out to those who have been hurt by our failure. It is important to reiterate the apology made by the Moderator at December’s Special General Assembly, as we are sorry to all who we have failed, I want to do what I can to build on the contrition already expressed in December, seek to ensure that we learn from and address our failings, and work with all involved to rebuild trust that has been broken.”

Until June he will be known as the Moderator-Designate and continue to serve his congregation in Templepatrick. 

Pope urges restraint as US ramps up pressure on Cuba

 

 

Pope Leo said he was deeply concerned about rising tensions between the United States and Cuba, and he called for "sincere and effective dialogue" to prevent violence and further suffering for the Cuban people.

US President Donald Trump said last week tariffs would be imposed on imports from countries that supply Cuba with oil, ratcheting up the pressure on Washington's long-time foe after ousting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a key Cuban ally, in early January.

Trump said the tariff threat was necessary to protect "US national security and foreign policy from the Cuban regime's malign actions and policies."

Pope Leo said he had received reports "with great concern" of rising tensions between Cuba and the United States. He joined Cuban bishops in "urging those responsible to promote sincere and effective dialogue to avoid violence and further suffering for the Cuban people," in comments after his weekly Angelus prayer.

Last week Trump predicted that "Cuba will be failing pretty soon," adding that Venezuela, once the island's top oil supplier, had not recently sent oil or money to Cuba.

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez declared an "international emergency" in response to the US tariff warning, which he said constituted "an unusual and extraordinary threat."

On Saturday, Trump reiterated his call for Cuba to negotiate with the United States. "It doesn't have to be a humanitarian crisis," he told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida.

US church leaders back calls to halt ICE funding after 'unacceptable' violence

 Catholic church leaders in the United States have signed a letter urging the Senate not to fund the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) unless an appropriations bill includes protections for migrants.

More than 300 Catholic leaders said the homeland security budget “risks entrenching harm rather than promoting justice or public safety” if it “priorities detention and removal – while lacking strong safeguards for family unity, due process, and accountability”.

New Jersey Cardinal Tobin described ICE as “lawless” while speaking at an online interfaith prayer service on 26 January, and urged lawmakers to cut its funding.

“How will you say ‘no’ this week when an appropriations bill is going to be considered in Congress? Will you contact your congressional representatives, the senators and representatives from your district? Will you ask them, for the love of God and the love of human beings, which can’t be separated, to vote against renewing funding for such a lawless organisation?”

The wider Catholic Church also expressed sorrow following the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents, with the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, saying the Holy See “cannot accept episodes such as these”.

“Issues, problems, contradictions should be resolved in other ways,” Parolin added.

In a separate joint statement, Cardinal Robert McElroy called the killings a “profound moral failure” that “demand[s] our collective attention and response”.

“The murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti – two US citizens devoted to civic engagement and to caring for their immigrant neighbors – have left communities in Minneapolis and across the nation grieving, shaken and rightly outraged,” the statement read.

The Department of Justice said late last week it had opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death, with US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying it was a “standard investigation by the FBI when there are circumstances like what we saw”.

“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on that day,” Blanche told reporters, adding the investigation would “to the extent it needs to” involve lawyers from the civil rights division.

Two agents involved in Pretti’s shooting have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, the US Customs and Border Protection said on Thursday.

President Donald Trump last week deployed Immigration Czar Tom Holman to Minnesota and removed Border Patrol “commander at large” Greg Bovino, under whose leadership the two fatal shootings occurred.

Trump said his administration plans to “de-escalate a little bit” in Minnesota, while Homan said he plans to “draw down” federal forces on the proviso that local officials cooperate.

“We are not surrendering our mission at all," Homan told reporters. "We’re just doing it smarter."

 

Jesus gets a makeover as Sistine Chapel artwork undergoes restoration

 

Michelangelo's "Last Judgment", a Renaissance masterwork in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel that depicts the Second Coming of Jesus, is undergoing its first restoration in 30 years.

Experts will work over three months to remove decades of built-up particles that have obscured the colours of the artwork, the Vatican said in a press release.

"The new intervention... will allow the removal of these deposits and the consequent recovery of the chromatic and luministic quality desired by Michelangelo," it said.

The Sistine Chapel, famous as the site of the secret conclave where the world's Catholic cardinals vote to select new popes, sees millions of visitors each year as part of the Vatican Museums.

The chapel will remain open during the restoration. But the fresco itself, showing Jesus delivering his final judgment of humanity, will be covered by scaffolding.

Visitors will instead be able to see a high-definition reproduction of the artwork, the Vatican said.

The chapel is also home to many other frescoes, including Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam" on its ceiling. Those will still be on display.