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A Global Peace Prayer on 22 March will draw Christians together in hope for a better future. A communique from a prayer planning committee explained that Christians are called into prayer and advocacy for peace. “In a global context where war and violence abound, the practice of peace has become even more urgent,” reads the message.

Les sanctions ne devraient pas nuire au soutien en faveur des plus vulnérables: c’est le message contenu dans un rapport sur l’impact des sanctions sur le travail humanitaire présenté lors d’un événement parallèle à la 52e session du Conseil des droits de l’homme des Nations Unies à Genève le 10 mars.

Sanctions should not harm the support for the most vulnerable, says a report on the impact of sanctions on humanitarian work presented at a side-event of 52nd session at the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva on 10 March.

Le 22 mars prochain, une prière pour la paix dans le monde rassemblera les fidèles chrétiens dans l’espoir d’un avenir meilleur. Un communiqué publié par le comité de planification de la prière explique que les chrétien-ne-s sont appelé-e-s à s’unir dans la prière et à défendre la paix. «Dans un contexte mondial pris d’assaut par la guerre et la violence, la pratique de la paix est devenue plus urgente que jamais», précise le texte.

H.E. Mor Boutros Kassis, who has been serving the community for the last seven years as a temporary bishop, was installed as archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Aleppo on 15 October.

In the aftermath of armed attacks by both the US and Iran, WCC reiterates its call for restraint and de-escalation of the confrontation.
“Further escalation and conflict between the United States and Iran can only serve short-term political interests, while threatening the permanent destruction of many lives, communities and precious cultural and environmental heritage,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. “I appeal to political leaders on all sides of this confrontation to put the interests of the people of the region ahead of their own interests, and to seek peace through dialogue and negotiation rather than confrontation.”

Born in Nazareth, Galilee, Rev. Dr Saïd Ailabouni moved to the US at the age of 19 to become a physician. But he was so angry at God that he went to study theology instead, becoming a Lutheran pastor. Now he is leading the Middle East & Europe desk of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Since leaving his hometown 50 years ago, he visits his Palestinian family regularly. As the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel approaches, Ailabouni agreed to share some of his lifetime observations with the Word Council of Churches.

Né à Nazareth, en Galilée, le pasteur Saïd Ailabouni a déménagé aux États-Unis à l’âge de 19 ans pour devenir médecin. Or, sa colère contre Dieu était telle qu’il a préféré suivre des études de théologie avant de devenir pasteur luthérien. Il est aujourd’hui à la tête du bureau pour le Moyen-Orient et l’Europe de l’Église évangélique luthérienne d’Amérique. Depuis qu’il a quitté sa terre natale, il y a 50 ans, il rend régulièrement visite à ses proches en Palestine. Alors que la Semaine mondiale pour la paix en Palestine et Israël approche, le pasteur Ailabouni accepte de confier certaines de ses réflexions, égrenées au fil des ans, au Conseil œcuménique des Églises.

On 5 August, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem released a statement in relation to the properties of Jaffa Gate. “The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem views the attempts of the radical organization, Ateret Cohanim, to seize church properties located in Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate and al-Mu'athamiyah, as a strike to the indigenous Christian presence in the Holy City,” the statement reads.

Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, leader of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, has received an International Religious Freedom Award from the US Department of State. The awards “honor extraordinary advocates of religious freedom from around the world” and will be presented on 17 July in Washington, D.C.

Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, responsable du Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (RTCYPP, Suivi religieux du processus de paix à Chypre), a reçu le Prix international de la liberté de la presse du Département d’État américain. Le prix «honore les défenseurs et défenseuses extraordinaires de la liberté religieuse dans le monde entier» et sera remis le 17 juillet à Washington, D.C.

Faith leaders across the USA released on 9 July a jointly signed statement entitled “Back from the Brink: Faith leaders call for diplomacy, not war, with Iran.”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Executive Committee, in a statement, reiterated its call for a just peace in Israel and Palestine. “That commitment is part of the fabric of our faith, and of the heritage of the ecumenical movement,” reads the statement. "We seek to express it by accompanying the churches, interfaith partners and communities of these lands in their witness and work for justice and for peace.”

Dans une déclaration, le Comité exécutif du Conseil œcuménique des Églises (COE) a réitéré son appel en faveur d’une paix juste entre Israël et Palestine. « Cet engagement fait partie du tissu de notre foi et de l'héritage du mouvement œcuménique », peut-on lire dans le communiqué. « Nous cherchons à l'exprimer en accompagnant les églises, les partenaires interconfessionnels et les communautés de ces deux pays dans leur témoignage et leurs efforts en faveur de la justice et de la paix ».

Restoring human dignity where people suffer most is the ultimate calling for churches in the Middle East and their partners worldwide, stated an annual partners meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches held in Ain el Qassis, Lebanon this week.