US Episcopalians return safe from Holy Land
A GROUP of ten Episcopalian pilgrims from Connecticut to the Holy Land, including Bishop Jeffrey W. Mello, arrived home on 3 March amid the conflict in the Middle East. Bishop Mello wrote on Facebook: “We have felt deeply supported by all of your prayers for us. And we are grateful for your prayers for our siblings in the Holy Land, and for all living under the threat of violence and war right now.” The group were in Bethlehem on the eighth day of their 12-day pilgrimage when the United States and Israel launched their joint attack on Iran, on 28 February. The pilgrims sheltered at St George’s College, Jerusalem, before being transferred by van to Amman. From there, they flew to New York, a day before their previously scheduled return.
Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad retires
POPE LEO has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako as the Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans. The Cardinal explained that he had considered resigning two years ago, on turning 75, and had discussed it with Pope Francis, who had encouraged him to stay on. Now, he says, he wants to dedicate himself “quietly to prayer, writing, and simple service” — and to explain it in a letter “to avoid any misunderstanding”. Cardinal Sako said: “I have led the Chaldean Church under extremely difficult circumstances and amid great challenges. I have preserved the unity of its institutions and have spared no effort to defend it.”
Tokyo court upholds removal of Moonies’ legal status
A TOKYO court has upheld an order to dissolve the Unification Church, known as the Moonies. Last year, a district court ordered the sect to disband after Japan’s education and culture ministry accused it of coercing followers into making large donations. On Wednesday of last week, the Tokyo High Court, rejecting the argument that the donations were part of legitimate religious activities, dismissed the appeal. The Moonies came under scrutiny after a former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who was associated with them, was killed in 2022 (News, 15 July 2022).The assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, who was sentenced to life in January, confessed that he held a grievance against Abe because of this connection with the Moonies, whom he blamed for bankruptcy in his family.
Niwano Peace Prize awarded to Benki Piyãko
THE 43rd Niwano Peace Prize, of 20 million yen, has been awarded to Benki Piyãko, an Indigenous spiritual leader of the Ashaninka People in the Amazon region of Brazil, in recognition of his “sustained leadership in defending Indigenous land and culture and for pioneering reforestation and environmental protection over the past 15 years”. The Niwano Peace Foundation, whose headquarters are in Tokyo, said that Piyãko had been “guided by Indigenous spirituality and committed to intercultural dialogue”.