PHOTO: FRANCESCO FANFANI

A secret cache of Michelangelo drawings is going on display 22

COLUMN

Christopher Howse’s Notebook ‘The satnav voice would only function if Radio 3 was on at the same time’ / 7

CONTENTS 18 NOVEMBER 2023 // VOL. 277 NO. 9528

FEATURES

4 / A strategy of peace

A week after the death of Pope John XXIII, John F. Kennedy switched from cold warrior to peacemaker. Five months later, he was assassinated / BY JAMES ROBERTS

6 / Be brave and call an election While the real world is being shaken by war, the UK’s domestic politics have

descended into a pantomime / BY JULIA LANGDON

8 / The new normal

The Synod has placed discussions about the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex relationships into a wholly different context / BY JULIE HANLON RUBIO

9 / Through Anglican eyes An ecumenical delegate to the Synod of Bishops compares synodality in the Anglican tradition with what he experienced in Rome / BY MARTIN WARNER

10 / A leap of faith

In the seventh of our series about family life, a poet and novelist welcomes his grandchild, and recalls his grandfather, miner and lamplighter / BY JOHN BURNSIDE

REGULARS Letters 14 The Living Spirit 15 Word from the Cloisters 16 Puzzles 16

NEWS

23 / The Church in the World / News briefing 24 / Petition to release Jimmy Lai rejected

26 / View from Rome 27 / News from Britain and Ireland / News briefing

28 / Antisemitic acts soar by 500 per cent

30 / Obituary / Ruth Burrows

COVER PHOTOS: ALAMY/PICTORIAL PRESS/UNIVERSAL IMAGES/DEAGOSTINI

BOOKS / PAGE 17

A.N. Wilson on autumn crime Luke Bell A History of the Catholic Church PIERS PAUL READ

Marcus Tanner Speed reading about Big Tech Lucy Thynne The Collected Poems of Laurie Lee Markie RobsonScott The Vaster Wilds LAUREN GROFF

ARTS / PAGE 20 Cinema The Mission ISABELLE GREY Theatre Backstairs Billy; The Interview MARK LAWSON Exhibition Michelangelo’s Secret Room JOANNA MOORHEAD Music Jephtha; Gavin Bryars’ 80th BENJAMIN POORE

For more features, news, analysis and comment, visit www.thetablet.co.uk

18 NOVEMBER 2023 | THE TABLET | 3