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One killed, many injured as masquerades invade church during service in Anambra State At least one person died yesterday while over 22 other persons sustained various degrees of injury when masquerades in their numbers invaded the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The masquerades, who were said to be celebrating a festival known as Uzo Iyi, invaded the worship ground, beating up members and also attempting to whisk away the spiritual director of the centre, Rev Fr Emmanuel Obimma. According to reports, three of the masquerade members were arrested by operatives of SARS upon complaint from the church that they were extorting worshippers coming to the church. The leadership of the church called in the SARS operatives to help their internal security to protect worshipers, but upon arriving, the operatives arrested three masquerades who were involved in the extortion, but their colleagues attempted to stop them from taking...

Pope Benedict in critical condition Former Pope Benedict is suffering from a disease of the nervous system which puts him on a wheelchair regularly. His brother, George Ratzinger, on Thursday said his condition was critical and added that he feared the paralysis could spread to Benedict’s heart. Benedict, a German, who in 2013 became the first Pope in six centuries to resign, said earlier in the month that he was in the last phase of life and on a “pilgrimage toward home”. He is 90 years old. Ratzinger, 94, told the Neue Post that his brother was mentally fit but tired easily. “The greatest fear is that the paralysis could at some point spread to his heart. “Then, it could be over quickly,” he said, adding that he was praying daily for a “good” death for himself and his brother. He disclosed that they spoke every day on the telephone, saying “that is a great gift; in this way, no one is alone”. “I very much hope that I can travel one more time to Rome to celebrat...

Pope meets sex abuse victims ‘several times a month’ – Vatican “I can confirm that the Holy Father meets sex abuse victims several times a month, both individually and in groups,’’ Vatican spokesman Grek Burke said in a statement. According to Burke, Pope Francis listens to the victims and tries to help them heal the serious wounds caused by the abuses they suffered. “The meetings take place in the utmost confidentiality to protect the victims’ privacy,’’ he added. Burke spoke after Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily ran an extract of an article due to be published on Saturday by Civilta Cattolica, a Jesuit magazine. The magazine quoted the pope as saying: “On Fridays – sometimes this is public, sometimes not – I usually meet with some victims, their experience is terrible, they are left destroyed.’ Francis made the remarks during a meeting with fellow Jesuits on his trip to Chile in January. The Catholic Church has been dogged for decades by the worldwide scand...