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.

Press Release: Meeting of Church leaders in Sydney to discuss situation of Christians in the Middle East, followed by an address by HG Bishop Angaelos on Global Displacement at a Public Forum

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

                                   Media and Communications Office

Press Release: Meeting of Church leaders in Sydney to discuss situation of Christians in the Middle East, followed by an address by HG Bishop Angaelos on Global Displacement at a Public Forum

8 July 2016

As part of his yearly pastoral visit to Australia, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, addressed the New South Wales (NSW) Ecumenical Council on Christians in the Middle East on 28 June 2016, later giving an address on global displacement at a Public Forum in Sydney.

Addressing the NSW Ecumenical Council, Bishop Angaelos gave thanks to the Council's President, Rev John Barr, and its General Secretary, the Very Rev Fr Shenouda Mansour, for raising the issues of persecution and turmoil in the Middle East, saying after the meeting:

“There is no time like the present for solidarity, because the world is in such need for unity. Gatherings such as this present a beacon of hope, especially at a time of such global uncertainty.”

His Grace spoke of the complexity of the Middle East situation, stressing the need to address the factors that have contributed to it over the years, saying:

“Throughout the Middle East there has been an organic, and sometimes systemic, yet gradual prejudice, marginalisation and alienation of Christians and minorities allowed to continue over decades, and as I have said in the past, this does not have to continue on our watch; we can and should speak and act against it.”

Going on to highlight the plight of people of other faiths and none, Bishop Angaelos continued:

“To infuse and maintain the core values and Christian principles of love, freedom, equality and faithfulness, we must advocate for the benefit of all indiscriminately. As a Christian I cannot be selective as to who I love, honour, or forgive. We must also not forget to give thanks to many of our Muslim brethren in the region working tirelessly and at great personal risk to safeguard the rights of Christians and others.”

Bishop Angaelos concluded his address by calling for greater collaboration between Churches, saying:

“The responsibility of Christian charity, generosity and hospitality is undeniable, so we must continue to promote solidarity, unity, light and hope.”

Later in the day His Grace Bishop Angaelos delivered an address on the situation of refugees at a Public Forum in Sydney on Global Displacement.  Bishop Angaelos spoke about refugee week being an important part of our global calendar as a result of the current crisis, and urged listeners to consider the humanity of every refugee, as an individual entitled to dignity and respect.

Explaining that Egypt is a country that historically provided refuge for the Holy Family, Bishop Angaelos said:

“As the Church of Egypt we are part of a country that accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as a refugee fleeing persecution, and so we indeed see the face of Christ in every refugee.”

Speaking of the role of Christians in responding to global displacement he continued:

“Our calling as Christians in particular is to represent all, to be light to all, and to give hospitality and charity to all indiscriminately, especially in the current climate. There is no single life that is more valuable than another, and as a Christian I cannot be selective as to who I love, forgive or provide for...the context of our humanity is one.”

Shedding light on the genuine struggle of refugees he said:

“These are not people seeking economic prosperity, they are men, women and children fleeing war-torn, poverty-stricken, near-anarchic states merely to find the safety and dignity to which they are entitled. To live with dignity is not a luxury but a God-given right that we must all respect, and do our utmost to secure for all.”

Going on to highlight the importance of collaboration, Bishop Angaelos said:

“We must work to give a context of peace and hope, and share the Christian message of love not hate, hope not fear, inclusion not exclusion and compassion not intolerance. Beside its pastoral and spiritual role, the Church is the biggest NGO in the world, the biggest provider of aid, sustenance and support, with the grounds and means to advocate, so let us continue to focus on people and not statistics, every life is sacred and important.”

His Grace concluded by quoting Leviticus 19:34:

“The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers...”

During the panel discussion that followed addresses, Bishop Angaelos was asked about the security threat posed by the refugee crisis, to which he responded:

“Of course it is a complicated situation and of course it comes with potential risks. Although this is a highly emotive and polarising issue, we must avoid merely being in polar opposite camps, but work together to find and implement practical systems of security assessment, instead of stereotyping every refugee and asylum seeker as a potential terrorist.”

The meeting was moderated by Mandy Tibbey, and the second keynote speaker was Tamara Domicelj, Regional Refugee Protection Advisor with Act for Peace. The panellists were Ms Carmen Lazar OAM, Community Settlement Services Assyrian Resource Centre, Mr Chey Mattner, Executive Officer of the Australian Lutheran World Service, Lieut-Colonel Samuel Pho, National Secretary of the Salvation Army, and Mr Sarkis Mouradian, Co-Convenor of the Commission on the Middle East, NSW Ecumenical Council.

*Ends*

HG Bishop Angaelos visits the world’s second largest refugee camp, and delivers address on ‘A time for opportunity and hope in the Middle East’ at the invitation, and in the presence, of HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan

HG Bishop Angaelos visits the world’s second largest refugee camp, and delivers address on ‘A time for opportunity and hope in the Middle East’ at the invitation, and in the presence, of HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan

15 March 2016

 In March 2016, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom visited the Za’atari Refugee Camp, the largest in Jordan and second-largest in the world, and met with international aid organisations and agencies to discuss the means by which they are serving those who have fled the crisis in Syria. 

Speaking about his visit to the camp, Bishop Angaelos said:

“Despite the tragic nature of the current refugee crisis, it was heartening to see children being able to attend educational classes within the camps, and equally encouraging to see women taught various life skills, including computing, embroidery and sowing.

Having met with the directors of UNICEF, UNHCR, World Food Programme, the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation and Caritas,  it is clear that immensely good and faithful work is being carried out daily to provide for the vulnerable victims of this current crisis.”

During his visit, which was arranged by The Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (RIIFS), His Grace delivered a lecture at the Orthodox Club in Amman at the invitation and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, Patron of RIIFS. The lecture, entitled ‘A time for opportunity and hope in the Middle East’ was also attended by Dr. Hayel Dawood, Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, numerous Church and Muslim leaders, diplomats, academics, legal and Middle East experts, and members of the Club.

During the lecture Bishop Angaelos spoke of the need and opportunity for a new narrative concerning the Middle East, saying:   

“This is an opportunity for us as civic and religious leaders to change the narrative and the expectation that the world has of the Middle East. Many now have no expectation of the region except that the situation will go from bad to worse, and that initiatives will be met with greater failure. We know however, because of our Faith, that there is always hope in humanity, and we must build upon that hope.”

Commenting on the role of religion in the Middle East, he went on to say:      

“Religion is seen by many to be the cause of the problem, but we must challenge the view that religion is irrelevant and a cause of conflict, and show that it is actually an essential part of the solution. We must continue to address internal radical interpretations of religion, and create a nuanced narrative and conversation to allow for freedom of choice, prosperity and dignity for all. We must no longer aim to merely ‘tolerate’ those who are different, but value and celebrate them in that difference.”

Speaking to the impact religious leaders can have on the Middle East region, he said:

“We need to be hope in an increasing hopelessness, and light in an increasing darkness. It is not enough for us to only lead in good times. Good leadership is especially required at the most difficult of times. Not only is it required, it is essential, because it is at those difficult times that people look to a beacon, and they look to someone to follow.”

Paying tribute to Prince Hassan and the work of the institute, Bishop Angaelos said:

“What is required of us as leaders, and what is seen here through this Institute and through this initiative, through His Royal Highness and through this Kingdom, is something that is new and welcomed. These efforts should not only be spoken about, they need to be celebrated.”  

Bishop Angaelos concluded with a call for continued collaboration, saying: 

“We are told in our Scriptures that we are the ‘light of the world’ and a ‘city set on a hill’ (Matthew 5:14) that cannot be hidden. Our world today needs that light of hope that is able to conquer all darkness…The time has come that we should not only react to messages of hopelessness, but that we become proactive and take the narrative into our hands, demonstrating a new and alternative model to the world.”

Following the lecture, in his response, Prince Hassan said:        

“…I thank God that we have this opportunity of interacting with love and respect, and not mere tolerance…the message of hope is clear.”

Speaking of a recent visit to a hospital under the care of Medecins Sans Frontieres in Jordan, His Royal Highness said:

“Yet again I saw the grotesquely disfigured, the amputated; a child who saw his father and uncles killed before him, deprived of the capacity of speech. The reconstructive process is not only of the physical framework of the human but of the attitude. They tell me children are not always drawing monsters, and bombs, but they are beginning to draw the sky and the sea and green pastures. So I would like to pay tribute to the nameless people of many nationalities, including many Jordanians, who have been dealing with the consequences of man’s inhumanity to man.”

He went on to say:

“How many families, communities, nations, and regions have to be torn apart before we finally wake up to the importance of change?”​

Later during his visit, Bishop Angaelos met with the Director and Secretary General of the Hashemite Charity Organisation, the Secretary General of the Arab Thought Forum, and the Director of Caritas Jordan, among others, during a lunch hosted by the Hashemite Charity Organisation. He also met with Munther Namat, Director of the Bible Society in Jordan, and visited the sacred sights of the Jordan River and various churches in the Jordan Valley region, as well as the Coptic Orthodox Church and community in Amman. 

*Ends*

***Lecture audio available here: http://bit.ly/21DbSdy***

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).