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The World Council of Churches (WCC) has made new staff appointments during 2024, including three new commission directors. WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay warmly greeted them as they began to serve in their particular ministries.

On the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay lamented the destruction of so many lives and called for an immediate end to the conflict.

On 28th August, during a visit with Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the UN Office, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed solidarity with those making efforts to lift the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by reopening the Lachin corridor.

The World Council of Churches and Conference of European Churches, in a joint letter to the European Union, are urging lifting the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by reopening the Lachin corridor.

With the topics of the war in Ukraine and climate protection as the focal points, the 38th German Protestant Kirchentag takes place in Nuremberg, Germany from 7 to 11 June. The World Council of Churches’ presence in the Kirchentag’s exhibition space “Market of Opportunities” (hall 9, stand 9-C32) enables lively encounters and an opportunity to learn more about the ecumenical movement.

On 17 May 2023 in Moscow, a WCC delegation consisting of general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, director for International Affairs Mr Peter Prove, and programme executive for Ecumenical Relations and Faith and Order Dr Vasile-Octavian Mihoc met with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Against the background of the Russian invasion and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a high-level WCC leadership delegation visiting Ukraine undertook an intensive series of consultations in Kyiv on 11 May 2023, with church leaders, Ukrainian government officials, and others.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed concern and sadness upon hearing about alleged actions taken against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Щонайменше 494 релігійні споруди в Україні було знищено, пошкоджено або пограбовано внаслідок російського вторгнення, а захоплення культових споруд для використання як російських військових баз збільшує масштаби знищення релігійних об’єктів в Україні, повідомляє Інститут релігійної свободи.

Как сообщает Институт религиозной свободы, из-за российской агрессии, по меньшей мере, 494 религиозных здания в Украине были полностью разрушены, повреждены или разграблены. Захват и использование религиозных зданий для размещения российских военных баз еще больше усугубляет масштабы разрушений религиозной инфраструктуры в Украине.

Mindestens 494 Sakralbauten in der Ukraine sind infolge der russischen Invasion in der Ukraine zerstört, beschädigt oder geplündert worden, und die Beschlagnahmung von kirchlichen Gebäuden als Standorte für russische Militärbasen vergrößert nach Berichten des Internationalen Instituts für Religionsfreiheit das Ausmaß der Zerstörung zusätzlich.

Según el Instituto para la Libertad Religiosa, al menos 494 edificios religiosos de Ucrania han sido destruidos, dañados o saqueados por la invasión rusa y la ocupación de edificios religiosos para su utilización como bases militares rusas aumenta la magnitud de la destrucción de los lugares religiosos del país.

Selon l’Institut pour les libertés religieuses, au moins 494 édifices religieux ont été détruits, endommagés ou pillés en Ukraine des suites de l’invasion russe, et la saisie de bâtiments religieux pour en faire des bases militaires russes ne fait qu’accroître la destruction des sites religieux en Ukraine.

At least 494 religious buildings in Ukraine have been destroyed, damaged, or looted as a result of the Russian invasion—and seizure of religious buildings for use as Russian military bases increases the scale of destruction of religious sites in Ukraine, reports the Institute for Religious Freedom.

Recognizing the deep need for, “renewed dialogue within the ecumenical movement,” the WCC 11th Assembly released a statement “strongly affirming the commitment of the WCC and its member churches to peace making through inter-religious dialogue and cooperation at all levels,” and calling for a global ceasefire in all armed conflicts around the world.

War in Ukraine, church dialogue, and humanitarian response were in sharp focus on third day of the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly. Church leaders from Ukraine together with heads of ecumenical organisations emphasised the need for reconciliation, unity, and peacebuilding.