In a historic first, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has officially referenced the Greek Genocide of Hellenes from the Pontus region in a joint communiqué, alongside condemnation of the illegal occupation of Cyprus.
According to Orthodox Times, the statement was issued at the conclusion of the Churches’ Commission on International Affairs (CCIA) conference, held in Athens from 18 to 20 May and hosted by the Church of Greece.
The inclusion, unanimously accepted by participants, followed a proposal by the Church of Greece and also acknowledged commemorative events in Athens marking the 1915 genocides of Greeks, Syriacs, and Armenians. These events, the communiqué noted, serve as a grim reminder of humanity’s “persistent cruelty, violence, and greed,” and as a call for Christians to renew their commitment to peace and justice.
The WCC also sharply criticised the United Nations, stating: “The utter inadequacy and ineffectiveness of the UN Security Council in preventing or resolving conflicts — whether in Gaza, Ukraine, or Sudan — has raised serious doubts about the usefulness of this body and whether the ‘international community,’ to which we often appeal, truly exists.”
“We mourn this failure and urgently call for a radical reform of the international peace and security architecture so that it may better fulfill its purpose of saving humanity from the scourge of war,” the statement continued.
The communiqué condemned multiple conflicts and injustices globally, including the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza — described as blatant violations of international law — as well as the wars in Ukraine and Sudan, the military regime in Myanmar, ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, and increasing global militarisation.
Despite its critical tone, the WCC praised the work of churches worldwide in fostering peace, defending human rights, and building social cohesion at the grassroots level.
Source: Orthodox Times
