Press release
For immediate release
Canadian churches and Christian leaders call for peace as war in Ukraine enters its third year
February 21, 2024, Ottawa – February 24 marks the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. National representatives of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant communities, in collaboration with the World Evangelical Alliance’s Peace and Reconciliation Network, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and the Canadian Council of Churches, have signed this Pastoral Letter on Ukraine, Canada, and the Church, inviting all to join in praying for peace.
“Without in any way minimizing or ignoring the suffering and sorrow caused by war and violence in other areas of the world, we stand together in inviting Christians and all people of good will to prayerfully consider how we are all called, and might contribute to, the achievement of peace in and for Ukraine.” – excerpt from the Pastoral Letter.
Endorsed by 45 leaders, the Letter identifies six meaningful ways by which to foster peace:
1. Pray
2. Support Ukrainian Refugees
3. Urge diplomatic steps towards a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine
4. Seek cooperative relationships of humanitarian support
5. Remember February 24, 2022
6. Hope for reconciliation
The President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary, supported by the CCCB’s Executive Committee, is one of the aforementioned signatories to the Letter, now available in English, French and Ukrainian. You are invited to share these links to pray and work together for peace.
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Media Inquiries:
Maribel Mayorga
Director of Communications
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) Email: communications@cccb.ca
Telephone: 613-241-9461, ext. 225