Interfaith Prayer for the Peace in Ukraine

Words of H.E. Archbishop José A. Bettencourt
Apostolic Nuncio and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
Interfaith Prayer for the Peace in Ukraine
Evangelical Baptist Church, Tbilisi
3 April 2022

Excellencies, Ambassadors,
Eminent Religious Leaders,
Distinguished Representatives of Religious Denominations,
Dear Friends,

We gather today in The Peace Cathedral at the gracious invitation of The Most Rev. Prof. Dr. Malkhaz Songulashvili, Metropolitan Bishop of Tbilisi of the Evangelical Baptist Church, for this Interfaith Prayer for the Peace in Ukraine.  We hear sacred texts from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Yazidi Religious traditions, at a time when Jews will be celebrating Passover, Christians are in Lent, Muslims have just started their holy month of Ramadan and Yazidi have just celebrated their New Year. The war in the Ukraine is on its 43rd day.  We gather because each of our Faiths tells us that the War in Ukraine is wrong, that War is wrong, and that our World is in need of Peace!

With the images on the walls of this Cathedral, I make Pope Francis` appeals for peace, my own: “Rivers of blood and tears flow in Ukraine”. It is a war unfolding before our very eyes sowing death, destruction and misery. It is madness.  It is unleashed human cruelty.  Waging war is forgetting humanity.  It is diabolical and a perverse abuse of power for partisan interests.  War does not resolve disputes.   

Stop the war! Open a constructive dialogue to put an end to this colossal humanitarian tragedy, barbaric displacement and killing of children, innocent and defenseless humans.  Cities are turned into cemeteries.

There is no God of war.  God is peace. Those who support violence profane the name of God. We implore that armed attacks cease, common sense prevail, real and decisive negotiations for peace take hold in respect for international law.  Humanitarian corridors must be respected.  

Through the backdrop of this darkness, we hear the light contained in the sacred texts of the many religions. Hearing these sacred texts allows us to understand truths of peace. That purifying light is an echo to the local community and the global human family. In order for it to shine, we cannot allow it to be eclipsed by the scandalous darkness when the religious belief of some turns sacrilegious and used to justify actions against the sacred dignity of human beings.

How often do we raise monuments to remember tragedies of wars? At times it seems that they cover our cities like tombstones in cemeteries to remind us of horrific histories.  Yet how often would it have been appropriate and just that religious leaders and believers raise their voices in favour of dialogue and peace.

We are meant to be builders of peaceful co-existence. We are called to be the most compelling living commentaries of the ʺGolden Ruleʺ — common in one form or another to all religions.  We wish to foster understanding, respect, trust and solidarity among all. We wish to leave no one behind and lift everyone up.  Each person of faith is called to be a beacon of light.

We cannot find rest.  We appeal “in the name of God, stop this massacre!”  Hence, We pray. We pray to God. We pray for a change of minds and hearts of warlords. We pray for the protection and safely of the beloved Ukrainian people from further warfare and bloodshed.  We pray for all who suffer , whose fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and children fall victims to this barbaric war.

Here tonight, a broad stratum of society is united in solidarity and support, praying for peace.  The sacred texts we hear this evening is the wisdom of the ages.  The light that has guided people through times of peace and times of tragedy.  Our faith teaches us that something better will come of our present pain – that the triumph of good is stronger and it will prevail.