Hostages

at Mass
in Iran
AMERICAN hostages held in Teheran were allowed to take part in Mass on Christmas day, though in more restricted circumstances than in 1979.
Mass was said by the Chaldeanrite Bishop of Teheran. Permission was refused for fellow American Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit to celebrate Mass. Nor was Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, a frequent and successful mediator in Iran, in evidence.
The Holy See's envoy in Iran, Bishop Annibale Bugnini, was allowed to visit the hostages. He was taken to their secret whereabouts blinfold, because of an Iranian fear that the American rescue attempt might be repeated.
Bishop Bugnini reported that the hostages were in good health, but that their general condition was not as sound as in 1979.
The Archbishop of Canterbury's special envoy to Iran, Mr Terry Waite, is seeking the release of four English Anglican prisoners. He also intends to lodge a plea from the archbishop for three imprisoned Iranian Anglicans. Dr Runcie's message is intended to be from one religious leader to another — the Ayatollah Khomeini. His Christmas initiative follows talks in England with Archbishop Capucci.