WCC NEWS: WCC acting general secretary to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow: “raise up your voice so that the war can be stopped”

In a letter to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow on 2 March, World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca asked the patriarch to mediate so that the war between Russian and Ukraine can be stopped. Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 02 March 2022 “It is with great pain and with a breaking heart that I am writing to Your Holiness,” wrote Sauca. “The tragic situation of the war in Ukraine has brought tremendous suffering and loss of lives.” Many of our brothers and sisters had to leave their homes—including the elderly, women, and children—to save their lives, Sauca noted. “The whole world is watching with deep concern and seeks a sign of hope for a peaceful solution.” Sauca said he receives letters every day from different parts of the world asking him to approach Patriarch Kirill to mediate so that the war can be stopped and the suffering ended. “In these times of hopelessness, many look to you as the one who could bring a sign of hope for a peaceful solution,” wrote Sauca. "I write to Your Holiness as acting general secretary of the WCC but also as an Orthodox priest. Please, raise up your voice and speak on behalf of the suffering brothers and sisters, most of whom are also faithful members of our Orthodox Church.” Western Christians celebrate 2 March as Ash Wednesday, the day of repentance as the beginning of Lent. Orthodox churches will celebrate 6 March as the Sunday of Forgiveness to mark the beginning of Lent on 7 March. “These powerful moments in our liturgical calendars call us to repentance, peace and reconciliation,” wrote Sauca. “While celebrating these spiritual moments, with filial respect and consideration I write to Your Holiness to intervene and mediate with the authorities to stop this war, the bloodshed and the suffering, and to make efforts to bring peace through dialogue and negotiations." Read full letter to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow (2 March 2022) WCC urges President Putin to stop war, restore peace to Ukraine (WCC press release of 25 February 2022) WCC statement: WCC urges to stop this war, and to restore peace to the people and nation of Ukraine (25 February 2022) In Ukraine, “such a war has no excuse, neither from God, nor from people” (WCC news release, 25 February 2022) WCC calls for an immediate end to the current armed hostilities (WCC statement 24 February 2022) WCC gravely concerned for people of Ukraine amid escalating tensions (WCC statement 22 February 2022) WCC urgently appeals for peace for the people of Ukraine (WCC statement 25 January 2022) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland