WCC NEWS: WCC general secretary meets with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss local and global peace

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay met with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, discussing peace initiatives across the globe—and the role of the WCC and South African leaders South African Council of Churches general secretary Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. Photo:WCC 10 August 2023 Discussions included Ukraine and Russia, Palestine and Israel, Sudan, Niger, and other nations in which peace initiatives are underway. Pillay and Ramaphosa shared mutual concerns about violence and conflicts throughout the world and in South Africa in particular, including load shedding, unemployment, inequalities, crime, corruption, and slow response to the the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption, and Fraud in the Public Sector. Pillay offered a prayer for the president at the end of the meeting. Pillay was  accompanied by South African Council of Churches general secretary Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, who arranged the meeting. “I was extremely pleased to discuss a number of global and local issues,” said Pillay. “President Ramaphosa was glad to hear about the WCC’s work and especially our peace initiatives in so many troubled parts of the world.” Pillay added that he affirmed the importance of Ramaphosa’s role with African leaders in seeking to bring peace in Ukraine and Russia. “I urged him to continue his conversations with president Putin on seeking dialogue for peace and an end to the war,” said Pillay. “He mentioned the role South Africa played in unlocking the issue of the grain supply and was hopeful of dialogues towards peace in the Ukraine.” Pillay concluded: “I was greatly impressed with President Ramaphosa’s responses to the very difficult and complex issues I raised with him, including a very frank discussion on challenges in South Africa.” WCC member churches in South Africa 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 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. 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