Eurobishop

For the first time in their history, people drawn from the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion have joined forces to combat modern slavery and human-trafficking. Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby have personally given their backing to the newly-formed Global Freedom Network. The agreement to help eradicate an injustice affecting up to 29 million people was co-signed today, March 17th by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See, Archbishop Sir David Moxon, the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Science and Social Science, Bishop Sanchez Sorondo, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Egypt, Dr Mahmoud Azab and Mr Andrew Forrest, the founder of the large international philanthropic anti-slavery organisation from Perth, Western Australia “Walk Free”.  The network has the resources it needs to carry out a five year plan. Archbishop Moxon has been closely involved in the negotiations which have brought about this landmark in chur...

This is a key weekend in Ukraine, with the controversial referendum in Crimea. I urge the faithful of the Diocese in Europe to continue to pray for the country and her peoples. On behalf of the diocesan family I sent the following message to the congregation of Christ Church Kiev today. Dear Sisters and Brothers of the Congregation of Christ Church, Kiev I want to assure you of the continuing prayers of the people of the Diocese in Europe for the return to peace and stability in the Ukraine. We pray for all who are making efforts to bring a resolution to the divisions, through diplomatic means and dialogue, so that there can be an end to violence and threat.  We pray for all Church leaders who are making calls for peace and the building of a new spirit of  peace and harmony in the country.  This weekend is going to be a significant one with the referendum in Crimea. We pray that the outcome will honour the democratic desires of the people of the region, and sh...

As we begin the journey of Lent towards the cross of Jesus, I share some images from a Turkish-language Taizé service recently held in the Church of the Resurrection, Istanbul. Young and old, gathered to pray at the foot of the cross, to hear the Word of God, and to join their voices in the gentle and ancient songs of Taizé. The Revd Engin Yildirim, the priest-in-charge, has worked with a team to develop this ecumenical prayer service, bringing together Anglicans and many others from all the Christian traditions in Istanbul, to share what was described as "a very sweet spirit of prayer amongst people". Another comment about the service was that it fulfilled a dream shared for a long time "to help Christians to pray in communion". May our Lenten journey as the people of this diocese be communion with Christians everywhere, knowing that God is leading us together as His people. Living God, you bury our past in the heart of Christ and are going to take care of...