Ukraine war: mediation attempt by the churches

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Are the churches trying to enter into a dialogue with the Russian Orthodoxy, who is close to Putin? After a visit by the head of the World Council of Churches to Pope Francis, there have been corresponding announcements. But when?

Vatican Audience: Opposite WCC general secretary Jerry Pillay (left) and Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm (2nd from right) sit next to the pope

For six months they have been at the head of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the new General secretary Jerry Pillay and moderator of the important WCC central committee, Bavarian bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm.

This Thursday she received Pope Francis in the Vatican for an inaugural visit. After that, the two emphasized the closeness between guest and host. Bedford-Strohm spoke of an “ecumenism of the heart” that connects both sides. “A wonderful, heartfelt conversation,” said WCC general secretary Pillay. According to official estimates, almost 1.4 billion people profess to the Catholic Church; the The World Council of Churches, founded in 1948, in which the Catholic Church is not a member but has observer status, claims to represent around 580 million people in 350 churches.

Jerry Pillay and Heinrich Bedford-Strohm were elected leaders of the World Council of Churches in Karlsruhe in September 2022 and took over their positions in early 2023 Offices

During the conversation and subsequently also publicly, the World Council of Churches announced a new attempt at dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church, which is close to Putin, in view of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Pillay explained that they wanted to bring together the Ukrainian churches, the Orthodox churches and other church leaders – including the Russian Orthodox Church – at a round table. It's not about a “political agenda”. But in such a situation, the churches should concentrate together on the gospel's message of peace. Discussions were already taking place with all sides in the background.

Round table in the May?

In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Pillay commented on the possible time frame. After Easter – the churches in the West celebrate Easter Sunday on April 2nd, those in the East on April 16th – the WCC first wanted to seek dialogue separately with the churches in Ukraine and with the Russian Orthodoxy. He hopes that there will then be a meeting in May where there will be a mutual encounter and dialogue. Pope Francis took positive note of the idea. 

Bedford-Strohm emphasized that the World Council of Churches is not neutral. The World Council of Churches condemned the aggression, especially at its general assembly in September in Karlsruhe. And already at its last meeting before the Karlsruhe meeting, the central committee – the highest governing body between the general assemblies that take place about every eight years – condemned the Russian attack as an “invasion” and as “immoral and illegal”. It also rejected the misuse of religious language to justify violence. 

Bedford-Strohm emphasized that these WCC statements were adopted “without blue cards”. Traditionally, when the Central Committee votes, the blue cards signal a different attitude of delegates to a proposed resolution. This means that the Russian Orthodox delegates also contradicted the Not evaluations. It is important to Bedford-Strohm that the churches stand in community across national borders.

< p>Patriarch Kirill is closely linked to Russia's President Putin

However, it remains unclear how the churches affected by the conflict, especially how Russian Orthodoxy will react to the initiative. For months, the rift between the Patriarchate in Moscow and the other Orthodox Churches has widened. The head of Russian Orthodoxy, Patriarch Kirill, a close supporter of President Vladimir Putin, consistently supports his course and defends the invasion of Ukraine. 

The Pope laments the martyrdom of the Ukrainians 

For his part, Pope Francis has for a long time been rather reserved about Russian aggression and tried to keep in touch with Cyril. Only since autumn 2022 has he condemned attacks more clearly and spoken of the martyrdom of the Ukrainian civilian population.

Bedford Strohm im Interview with WCC delegates in Karlsruhe in 2022

Quite apart from concerns about the Ukraine war, the meeting of the Roman Catholic Church leader with WCC leaders marks a new phase in mutual dialogue. Pillay, who was President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches until 2017, has now met Francis for the fourth time, with Bedford-Strohm, who had already stayed in the Vatican guest house, there are many more encounters. The South African Pillay spoke of good agreement, also when working together towards Christian unity.

The year 2025

This fits with the broad perspectives of Christianity worldwide that WCC officials said were being discussed at the Vatican. Representatives and experts have been discussing the significance of the year 2025 for churches around the world for a long time. Then the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which laid down the foundations of the Christian faith in 325. In 2025 – a coincidence given the different church calendars and rather rare – the Easter festival for the churches of the west and the east falls on the same date. 

“It is clear that all churches should get involved in shaping this commemoration together,” Pillay told DW. Both the WCC member churches and the Catholic Church are working on this. There will now be more ecumenical exchange on this, including ecumenical encounters at the top level. Will the Pope, who repeatedly evokes Christian unity, be there? Pillay doesn't want to confirm that clearly. The Vatican sees the importance of the year 2025. He himself “wouldn't be surprised,” he says, “if Pope Francis were visibly involved in celebrations in 2025.”

The World Synod in Rome

Before that, in the fall of this year, the Catholic Church will be hosting a world synod that has been eagerly awaited, which will deal with a new beginning in the church, questions of reform in view of the global scandals of sexual abuse and better dialogue within the church. In both Pillay's and Bedford-Strohm's calendars, the evening of September 30 is already written, a great evening event in St. Peter's Square, prayer and song. Francis probably wants to invite other leaders from other churches to the celebration.

Pope Francis and Frere Alois, the prior of the Taize Ecumenical Community. The picture shows an encounter in 2017

An evening that will probably attract tens of thousands of believers. “Together –  Gathering of the People of God” is the unofficial title of the evening. And Pope Francis asked Frere Alois, the prior of the internationally renowned ecumenical community of Taize in France, to participate. The preparatory meetings are increasing in Rome. And at the beginning of March, by the way, a whole bus full of Taize brothers and volunteers working there drove to Geneva, almost 200 kilometers away, visited the World Council of Churches and spoke to Secretary General Pillay.