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The central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) meeting in Geneva from 15-21 June 2018 reiterates its grave concern regarding the alarming and rapidly deteriorating situation of Christians in the Middle East.

The central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on 15-21 June 2018, is deeply concerned by recent developments in Gaza and Jerusalem, and the on-going struggle of the Christians of the Holy Land.

As the worldwide Muslim community celebrates the feast of Eid Al Fitr this week, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit offered written greetings of peace.

The story of the prophet Jonah tells us about a tortuous road of a call to conversion and about God’s infinite mercy both towards the reluctant prophet and towards “the great city in which there are more than a hundred twenty thousand persons … and a large number of animals” (Jonah 4:11).

On Vesakh - a day commemorating the life and legacy of Gautama Buddha - WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit extended his greetings to Buddhists across the world.

"Theological Education in the Context of Global Christianity" - Public lecture by Prof. Dr Rudolf von Sinner, presented at the Ecumenical Center, Visser´t Hooft Hall, Friday, 13 April, 11-12.30hs.

The story of Jonah is about the compassionate God whose mercy has no geographical, cultural, political, and economic frontier. The dialogue between God and Jonah (Jonah 4:1-11), which is considered the climax of the Book of Jonah, is an invitation to overcome intolerance and to cultivate compassion. The dialogue consists of two main parts: the anger of Jonah (v. 1-5) and the compassion of God (v. 6-11). In the dialogue, Jonah becomes angry, but God responds to him with two questions: “Is it good for you to be angry?” (v. 4) and “Is it good for you to be angry about the plant?” (v. 9) which indicate the limitless and universal mercy of God. In this way, the story of Jonah invites us to the pilgrimage of tolerance and compassion.

Statement read by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, during a joint press conference at the Vatican Press Office, during which it was formally announced that Pope Francis will visit the WCC in June 2018.

The 26-27 February 2018 conference was organized by the Vienna-based International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID).

The journey of the disciples to Emmaus in Luke 24 is not a pilgrimage toward Jerusalem but leaving it disillusionment. It is a journey of finding our hearts burning as the disciples of Emmaus’s hearts were burning at the moment of sharing a meal. The text invites us to find our own Emmaus where our heart to be kindled. Each of us meets unknown pilgrims who hide an unknown Jesus, but especially meets and encounters him- or herself, discovers that that he or she has a heart that hopes, eyes to see and ears to listen, and finds him- or herself in full solidarity with every human being. The story speaks about three places in which we meet the Risen Christ: scripture, eucharist, and community. It is a pilgrimage of hope and of expectation by listening to the Word, breaking the bread, and hearing the voice of the other because everyone is created in God’s image.

Address at the opening session by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, in Cairo, 17 January 2018.

Entitled “To Bonn and Beyond: Act Now with Justice and Peace”, the statement was read by Frances Namoumou, representing the WCC and the Pacific Conference of Churches, to the plenary of the High Level Ministerial Segment of the 23rd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23), in Bonn, Germany, where the United Nations Climate Change Conference took place under the presidency of Fiji.

Speech by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit at a Muslim World League symposium in Geneva entitled “The Role of Religions on the Strengthening of World Peace.”

‘Diamond Jubilee Message’ delivered on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Christian Conference of Asia, Yangon, Myanmar, 15 October, 2017 by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches

"This ‘New Year’ falls at a difficult time, when assumptions that have governed life in significant parts of our world for a generation or more have, during the last year or so, suddenly been called into question", the WCC general secretary rights in a greeting to Jewish partners on the occasion of Rosh Ha-Shanah and the High Holy Days.

The ecumenical chance of the year 2017 - review - proposals - perspectives, by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC General Secretary.

On Vesakh - a day commemorating the life and legacy of Gautama Buddha - WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit extended his greetings to Buddhists across the world.

Address of His-All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Al-Azhar and Muslim Council of Elders' Global Peace Conference, 28 April 2017.

Communiqué issued on 27 April, where the group stresses that migration and peace-building in situations of violence are the two burning issues that the JWG wants to address more specifically during its present mandate.

Address by World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, at Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, 27 April 2017.