The spiritual head of the Church of England will house a family of Syrian refugees in a cottage at his official London residence, Lambeth Palace, from next month, a local councillor said on Wednesday. Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the world's 85 million-strong Anglican communion, pledged last September to personally take in refugees from Syria, with the gesture following a similar move by Pope Francis in the Vatican. More than 250,000 people have been killed in Syria's five-year war, with half of the population forced from their homes leaving 6.6 million displaced inside the country and another 4.8 million fleeing, many seeking refuge in Europe.
Lambeth Council's deputy leader Paul McGlone said the family is due to arrive at Lambeth Palace on the banks of the River Thames next month. "We have ... worked with the Home Office and Lambeth Palace to support the Archbishop's undertaking to house a family within the grounds of Lambeth Palace," the Lambeth Council press office quoted McGlone as telling fellow councillors. (Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation)
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