Archbishop of Canterbury to host Syrian refugee family

The Archbishop of Canterbury 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, 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: Vatican Radio