World Council of Churches calls for support of Syrian Christians

Syrian Christians. Photo: sib-catholic.ru

On December 10, 2024, Professor Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), called on Christian communities and partners worldwide to support Syrian Christians and pray for the Syrian people.

"In this time of mixed uncertainty and hope, the WCC calls all its member churches and ecumenical partners to join in prayer and Christian solidarity with the churches and people of Syria as they navigate their course through this transition," Pillay stated.

He reminded listeners that the Syrian people have endured more than a decade of war, displacement, and loss caused by a devastating armed conflict following the suppression of peaceful protests in 2011.

According to Pillay, over 580,000 lives have been lost, 13 million Syrians have been displaced, and 154,000 individuals have faced arbitrary detention or enforced disappearance – including two Archbishops of Aleppo, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Archbishop Boulos Yazigi, who were kidnapped by gunmen in April 2013.

"This underscores the immense humanitarian cost of this conflict, and the urgent need for pathways to restorative justice and reconciliation," Pillay emphasized.

He also appealed to the international community, WCC member churches, and their ecumenical and interfaith partners to provide support and aid to displaced Syrians and those in need.

Pillay urged external powers to refrain from armed interventions or other actions that deprive the Syrian people of the opportunity to achieve their aspirations for a just, sustainable, and democratically inclusive peace in their own country.

"This is the time to assist Syria gain stability and peace rather than to exploit the situation for one’s own gains," he added.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Synod of the Bulgarian Church called for assistance to Christians in Syria and Lebanon.

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