Hand of God: Mourners light candles in front of the San Paolo stadium in Naples, last Friday, in memory of the Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona, who died at home on Wednesday of last week, aged 60, after a heart attack. Brought up in a strongly Roman Catholic family, he believed that God had at birth given him the ability to play well. Pope Francis, who had met the footballer several times, had been praying for him during his recent health problems. A Vatican spokesman said that the Pope recalled their meetings “with affection”
Hand of God: Mourners light candles in front of the San Paolo stadium in Naples, last Friday, in memory of the Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona, who died at home on Wednesday of last week, aged 60, after a heart attack. Brought up in a strongly Roman Catholic family, he believed that God had at birth given him the ability to play well. Pope Francis, who had met the footballer several times, had been praying for him during his recent health problems. A Vatican spokesman said that the Pope recalled their meetings “with affection”
Nigerian massacre ‘pure evil’ says Welby
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned the massacre of at least 110 labourers on a rice farm in Nigeria, describing it in a Twitter post on Tuesday as “pure evil”. He continued: “May God be with those who are traumatised and bereaved. I pray fervently for justice, peace and security in Nigeria.” The killings, in which witnesses saw workers being decapitated, took place on Saturday in the village of Zabamari, in Borno State, in the north-eastern region of the country. Responsibility for the attack has not been admitted, but it is suspected to have been carried out by members of Boko Haram or Islamic State. At the end of his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis prayed that God would “comfort their families and convert the hearts of those who commit such horrors, which severely offend His name”. The killings have also been condemned by the United Nations and by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
Pope installs first African-American cardinal
THE first African-American cardinal was one of 13 installed by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, on Saturday. The new cardinal, the Most Revd Wilton Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., was the only American present at the ceremony, which was attended by the first members of the College of Cardinals from Rwanda and Brunei. Archbishop Gregory had criticised President Trump’s decision in June to remove protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets so that he could pose in front of a church in Washington while holding a Bible (News, 5 June). Archbishop Gregory said last month that he wanted to work with President-Elect Joe Biden on “things that we can do together for the betterment of the American community”.
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