United Nations International Day of Peace 2025 - Reflection by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos

                      

Reflection on the International Day of Peace
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos OBE, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom

Source: www.UN.org

21 September 2025

On this year’s International Day of Peace, as recognised by the United Nations, there is an urgent need for a global spirit of solidarity and hope amidst ongoing wars, conflicts and atrocities in our world. Millions are suffering violations of their basic human rights and freedoms, and countless others are living in tumultuous conditions, robbing them of their loved ones and livelihoods. Many millions are also displaced, both internally and externally, as a direct result of war and destruction. Division is now rampant within countless nations, and this spirit of opposition and injustice across and within communities will only lead to more suffering and pain for all.

Due to the current undeniable scale of suffering, destruction, displacement, famine and scarcity of medical care, there is a particular focus this year on the ongoing wars affecting Gaza and Ukraine, and the ongoing pain of separation and uncertainty regarding the wellbeing of loved ones, as well as terrorist attacks, in Israel.

There is also unspeakable pain for the people of Sudan, Yemen, sub-Saharan Africa and across the Middle East, as well as many more in pockets of the world whose stories remain untold and without a focus in our daily news feeds. Every individual who is suffering is worthy of our attention, prayers and active efforts towards promoting and finding just and sustainable peace for all.

Our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us that “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25); as a global community, we are now more divided than we have been for decades.

While we consider the global situation, we cannot ignore the current tension and climate of unrest that lies within communities at a national level in many parts of the world. These must be first addressed so that we may stand with and for one another as we become instruments of peace for the world at large.

Despite this reality, what is also true is that we can indeed be, and make, a powerful and impactful difference in our communities and in our world. Our ongoing prayers and advocacy efforts can be for peace, justice and genuine reconciliation to take place within our global communities. We can, individually and collectively, be catalysts of, and advocates for, acts of reconciliation within our own families, neighbourhoods, communities and wider circles of influence, as we all, in our own way, extend a hand of peace to one another.

We pray God’s peace upon His world, wisdom upon policy and decision makers, comfort, strength and resilience upon those suffering as a result of a lack of peace, and faithfulness and determination upon all those called to continue to speak, advocate, and act for peace in every corner of the world.

Article by HG Bishop Angaelos on 'A Christian response to the plight of refugees and displaced peoples'

4 December 2015

A safe passage: a Christian response to the plight of refugees and displaced peoples

By His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom

As countries across Europe unite in their efforts to address the crisis in the Middle East and its root causes and effects, it is important that as Christians, we recognise our role and what we represent in the midst of this crisis.

The Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ is pivotal to our Faith and is the most powerful demonstration of what it means to provide for the needs of others who find themselves in exile, away from their rightful homelands. As humans, we were all victims of the separation from God caused by the weakness of our humanity, and through the Incarnation and Salvation, were restored to our rightful place in Him. When God took flesh, He experienced our pain by sharing in it and not merely observing our situation from a distance. Having said that, the Incarnation of our Lord was not only intended to make humanity feel comfortable in the world (John 17:14-15), but to provide a safe and viable route back to its rightful original place in His Kingdom.

Likewise, we must also feel the pain of those suffering, share their burden, and provide for the immediate humanitarian needs of the vulnerable who are both internally and externally displaced. Our longer-term vision must then be to restore them, if that is their desire, to the lands they have occupied for generations, and in which their heritage and identity lies; a restoration that is founded upon dignity, equality, safety and prosperity.

The idea of providing this means of return is by no means prescriptive, but is based upon the same concept of our Lord having provided us with a viable way to reach His Kingdom through Salvation, but leaving that desire and its related choices to every individual.

We must then continue to work towards safeguarding the dignity of every person we encounter, and to call for the basic God-given rights owed to the countless millions living in unenviable positions of displacement or exile. We must also do all we can to provide for those in greatest need of our support, for in doing so we live the message of the Incarnate Lord, extending our hand and offering ourselves as ministers of His message of hope, light and love (Matthew 5:14).