world news brief

Pope admitted to hospital with abdominal surgery

Francis He was taken to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Wednesday afternoon to undergo abdominal surgery, Vatican News reported. his surgeon Dr. Sergio Alfieri, Reports Thursday said he was recovering well. “The Holy Father is all right, he is awake, alert and already joking with me!” A statement from the Holy See press office on Thursday said the papal audience would be suspended “as a precautionary measure” while the pope recovered. Earlier this week, the press office said the surgery was necessary due to “recurrent, painful and exacerbated sub-obliterative syndrome due to incisional fluid accumulation (hernia)”.

Prayers in Rome after Indian railway disaster

this pope Condolences sent to families of 275 killed after train crash in eastern Odisha state India, Sunday, was said to be the worst for India this century. Additionally, 1,200 people were injured when a passenger train was directed onto a secondary track, collided head-on with a stationary freight train and struck a second passenger train in the opposite direction. During the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said: “May our Father bring into his kingdom the souls of the dead.” Reports suggest the cause may be linked to a malfunctioning track switch. Investigation continues.

Welby and WCC focus on protests in Jerusalem

this Archbishop of Canterbury and world council of churches (WCC) expresses concern over violent protests by right-wing Jewish activists against evangelical Christian events in Jerusalem on May 28. Protesters reportedly chanted insults, spat at participants and smashed windows at the Davidson Center near the West Wall.The Archbishop of Welby tweeted last week that he had reiterated his commitment to “protect[ing] The status quo of Jerusalem as a city cherished by Jews, Christians and Muslims”; religious freedom is the “foundation” of Israel’s Constitution. The “violation of the status quo” in the United States will “bring division, difficulty and violence”.

New co-chairs of Anglican-Orthodox body

archbishop DublinDr. Michael Jackson has been appointed Co-President of the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Council (AOOIC). He succeeded Bishop of St Asaph, Rt Revd Gregory Cameron. The Coptic Orthodox Archbishop Angaelos of London is the Orthodox co-chair. Dr. Jackson said: “I have had the privilege of being a part of the conversation since 2002. During that time we have addressed a wide range of issues of importance to the various traditions involved in the conversation. . . Personally and theologically closer.”