Along with the below letter signed by over 200 Bishops, Churches for Middle East Peace sent this cover-letter to the Administration of President Donald Trump. To governments, to all people of goodwill, and to the faithful entrusted to our care: On this 40th anniversary of the Global Day of Prayer for Peace, we join Pope Leo XIV and Christians around the world in renewing the call offered by St. John Paul II at Assisi in 1986 and reaffirmed by Pope Francis in 2023: to reject violence, uphold human dignity, and pursue a just and lasting peace. We affirm every person’s right to worship freely, practice their faith without fear, and live according to their own conscience. Religious freedom, human dignity, peace, and justice are inseparable. As bishops and Christian leaders from around the world, we issue this declaration because Christianity in the Holy Land and Middle East has reached a critical moment. We speak as Christians, but our care and concern are for all who call this sacred region home. Our Christian faith teaches that every person is created in the image of God (imago Dei). All of creation is sacred. Every community deserves security, freedom, and dignity. Where religious communities are persecuted, displaced, or denied equal rights, peace cannot flourish. Where people of different faiths live with mutual respect and equal protection, societies are strengthened and reconciliation becomes possible. We condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia, Christian persecution, Christian Zionism, and every ideology and theology that privileges or excludes any group of people or denies the God-given worth of any human being. Every person, regardless of faith, race, culture, or nationality is to be treated with dignity, and receive the protection and preservation of all their human rights including religious freedom and equal protection under the law. Across the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East, we witness immense suffering. Wars and crises in Israel and Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and the wider region have claimed countless lives, displaced millions, devastated communities, and deepened fear and division. Innocent civilians continue to bear the greatest burden of war. We are particularly alarmed by the rapid decline of Christian communities throughout the region. Ancient churches that have borne witness to Christ for nearly two thousand years are shrinking as families emigrate in search of safety, stability, and a less uncertain future. If these trends continue, the birthplace of Christianity risks becoming a place where Christians remain only as visitors rather than living communities rooted in their historic homeland. We must act now, or Christians may all but disappear from the Middle East. We are concerned by the continued challenges facing our Christian brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. We support a shared Jerusalem with freedom of worship for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and all who call the city holy. In Palestine, Christians - like their Muslim neighbors - face growing uncertainty as violence, movement restrictions, economic hardship, and displacement by the policies of the Israeli government and the actions of settlers drive families from their homes. In the illegally occupied West Bank, including the historic Christian town of Taybeh, escalating settler attacks - enabled and supported by the Israeli military - against communities, homes, farms, and places of worship are alarming. An absence of protection or accountability further undermines confidence in the rule of law and threatens the future of Palestinian life, including for Palestinian Christians.In Gaza, the Christian community now numbers around 500 out of the overall population of more than 2 million Palestinians. Families have suffered alongside their Muslim neighbors through immense loss, displacement, hunger, and destruction resulting from Israel’s three-year military campaign that has not ended. We call for the recognition of human dignity and due process for all those detained, and protection of every civilian without distinction. Lebanon continues to endure overlapping political, economic, and security crises, compounded by Israel’s ongoing military operations and occupation in parts of southern Lebanon. These pressures have accelerated Christian emigration and displacement. Syria’s ancient Christian communities continue to struggle after more than a decade of devastating war and unilateral U.S. economic sanctions. Armenia, the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion, also faces profound security challenges. Armenia’s stability and the preservation of its ancient Christian heritage remain matters of concern for the global Church. Throughout the region, escalating violence threatens broader wars that would endanger all peoples and faith communities. The diminishing presence of Christians in the Middle East is not simply a Christian concern. It signals that justice, equality, security, and hope are failing for everyone. The Church does not seek privilege for Christians; we seek societies where Christians, Muslims, Jews, Druze, Yazidis, and all people can flourish together with equal rights, dignity, and protection under the law. We therefore call upon governments and the international community to pursue a just peace with renewed courage. We urge leaders to end violence through proactive, sustained diplomacy; ensure unhindered humanitarian assistance and access to daily needs; protect places of worship and vulnerable communities; and uphold human rights and international humanitarian law without exception. We also call upon Christians throughout the world to respond faithfully. Pray without ceasing for peace with justice. Stand in solidarity with the churches and people of the Middle East. Support diaconal and humanitarian ministries that serve all people, regardless of religion, belief, or no belief. Welcome those displaced by conflict and advocate for their safe right to return to their homes and communities if desired. Promote reconstruction and/or compensation for damaged and destroyed communities, medical and educational institutions, and other properties. . Ensure that those state and non-state actors responsible for violations of international law are held accountable for the loss of life, suffering, damage and destruction that they have caused. Reject hatred and dehumanization. Raise your voices with elected leaders, urging policies that advance peace, protect human dignity, uphold international law, and preserve the religious diversity of the Middle East. The future of Christianity in the Holy Land will not be secured by walls, weapons, or war. It will be secured when justice, equality, diplomacy, and peace prevail for all who live there. May we renew our common commitment to become peacemakers in word and deed. Together with the global church, churches of the Holy Land, and people of goodwill around the world, we pray and work for the day when collectively we beat our swords into plowshares, every family lives without fear under their own fig tree, and lands made holy by God become places where people of every faith live together in freedom, dignity, and peace. May God go before us and make straight the path toward peace. Bishop and Executive-Level Leader Signatories Sir Jeffery Abood, KCHS Chair, Catholic Advisory Council Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) United States Rev. Eddy Alemán General Secretary Reformed Church in America United States Peter Digitale Anderson Executive Director Peace Catalyst International United States Fr. Varghese Antony, SJ Director Madurai Province of India India Rev. Earl Arnold Secretary Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea United States Archbishop Vicken Aykazian Executive Director, Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate, Diocese Armenian Church of America United States Rev. Ms. April Baker Interim Director Alliance of Baptists United States Rev. Hannah Baker Regional Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Evangelical Covenant Church United States Rev. Luca Baraldi Chancellor Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith Canada Rev. David E. Bennett President, Provincial Elders' Conference Moravian Church in North America, Northern Province United States Bishop Giorgio Bertin President Caritas MONA Italy Bishop Steven Biegler Bishop Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne United States Rev. Fr. Oliver Borg Olivier, SJ Member of the Board of Directors, JRS - Malta Society of Jesus Malta Fr. Francis J. Breen Justice and Peace Coordinator Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers United States Bishop Sue Briner Bishop Southwestern Texas Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) United States Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde Bishop The Episcopal Diocese of Washington United States Rev. Marin J. Burnham Coordinating Committee Priests Against Genocide United States Monsignor Gerard Burns Vicar-General Archdiocese of Wellington New Zealand Rev. Edgar Busuttil, SJ Director, Paulo Freire Institute Malta Society of Jesus Malta Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon Executive Director Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) United States Bishop Christian Carlassare Bishop Catholic Diocese of Bentiu South Sudan Sr. Janice Cebula Past President Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa United States Rev. Canon Paul G. Chandler President CARAVAN United States Rev. Fr. Matthew Charlesworth, SJ Development Director Society of Jesus Zimbabwe Rev. Frank Chikane Former International President Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) South Africa Elizabeth Cho Director of Organizing Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network Faith-based Caucus United States Shane Claiborne Founder Red Letter Christians United States Kyle Cristofalo Head of DC Office, Senior Director of Advocacy and Government Relations Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) United States Fr. Stephen Cummins, OP Prior Dominican United States Rt. Reverend James Curry Chair of Trustees Friends of the Holy Land United Kingdom Rev. Giancarlo Dallospedale Director of the Missionary Center Diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio Italy Bishop Robin Dease Episcopal Leader The United Methodist Church Georgia Conference United States Bishop Jan De Groef Bishop Emeritus Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem South Africa Marie Dennis Co-Director, Catholic Institute for Nonviolence Pax Christi International United States Bishop Edwin Desmond Pockpass Liaison Bishop for ACSA Support for Palestine and the Middle East Anglican Church in Southern Africa South Africa George Devendorf Senior Director, External Relations Church World Service United States H.E. Vicki Downey, DGCHS Lieutenant Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem United States Rt. Rev. Justin Duckworth Bishop of Wellington Anglican Diocese of Wellington New Zealand Bishop Paul D. Erickson Bishop Greater Milwaukee Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) United States Jamie Eyre CEO Embrace the Middle East United Kingdom Ann Farr Vice-President Pax Christi England and Wales United Kingdom Dr. Roland Fernandes General Secretary General Board of Global Ministries The United Methodist Church United States Bishop Stacie R. Fidlar Bishop Northern Illinois Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) United States Dr. Miok Lee Fowler Former Be Just, Be Green, Western Regional Director United Methodist in Denver United States Rev. César García General Secretary Mennonite World Conference Canada Rev. Dr. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson General Secretary Emeritus Reformed Church in America (RCA) United States Blondel A.B. Jones Grant Provincial Elders Conference Moravian Church in America, Northern Province United States Rev. Bruce Gillette Co-Moderator of Justice in Mission and Ministry Team Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley (PCUSA) United States Susan Gunn Director Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns United States Rev. Dr. Andrew S. Hamilton District Executive Southeastern District Church of the Brethren United States Fr. Paul E. Hansen, C.Ss.R. JPIC Director Redemptorists Canada Rev. Dr. Jay R. Hartley Regional Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona United States Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins Director of Advocacy Presbyterian Church (USA) United States Fr. John Heagle Coordinator Priests Against Genocide-USA Erikka Hedberg Board Member Representative for the Evangelical Covenant Church Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Canada Charlene Howard Executive Director Pax Christi USA United States Rev. Dominic Howarth Episcopal Vicar Caritas Diocese of Brentwood United Kingdom Sr. Teresa Hougnon, MM President Maryknoll Sisters of Saint Dominic United States Fr. Irudhaya Jothi, SJ Udayani Social Action Forum Calcutta Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) India Rev. Dr. Nicolas Kazarian Ecumenical Officer Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America United States Bishop Steven C. Kellogg Board Member Representative Community of Christ United States Patrick Kelly Archbishop Emeritus of Liverpool Diocese of Liverpool United Kingdom Bruce Fred Knotts President NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security United States Rev. Sue Koenig Board Member, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Moravian Church in North America United States Rev. Cindy Kohlmann Lead Presbyter & Stated Clerk New Castle Presbytery– Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) United States Ferdinand Labitag Main Representative at the United Nations Congregation of the Mission United States Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Langrish Bishop Emeritus of Exeter Church of England United Kingdom Rt. Reverend Kym Lucas Bishop Episcopal Diocese of Colorado United States Rev. Vincent Magri Superior Jesuit Community in Malta Malta Rev. Dr. Felix Javier Malpica Bishop La Crosse Area Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) United States Fr. Rito Maresca Coordinator Priests Against Genocide-International Italy Dr. Frazer Mascarenhas, SJ Secretary for Social Justice and Ecology Jesuit Province of Bombay India Fr. Bonaventure Mashata Secretary, Department for Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Dialogue with the Secular World Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference South Africa Bishop Mercy T. Manzini Founder Gender Based Violence Advocacy South Africa Bishop MJ Matebane President Leadership Institute of Bishops and Apostles South Africa Sr. Mary McAteer Congregation Leader Missionary Srs of the Assumption, Ireland & South Africa South Africa Fr. Joseph McCullough Great Britain Director St Patrick’s Missionary Society United Kingdom Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie President and General Secretary National Council of the Churches of Christ United States Very Rev. Dr. Andrew R. C. McLellan Former Moderator of the General Assembly Church of Scotland United Kingdom Bishop Motlatsi Meshack Phomane Diocesan Bishop Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem South Africa Mark Mitchell Humanitarian and Development Manager Anglican Missions NZ New Zealand Rev. Prof. Dr. Leepo Modise Moderator Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa South Africa Rev. Dr. Sidwell Mokgothu District Bishop Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Limpopo District South Africa Rev. Deborah Lee Moorgas Member of the Palestine Advisory Board Anglican Church of Southern Africa South Africa Dr. Bridget Moix General Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation United States Rev Mzwandile Molo General Secretary South African Council of Churches South Africa Rev. Juan Montes Zúñiga, MM Secretary General Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers United States Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe Bishop South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) United States Rev. Dr. Lungile Mpetsheni Former General Secretary Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa South Africa Archbishop Zolile P. Mpambani, SCJ Archbishop Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bloemfontein South Africa Rev. Dr. Stephen Murray Former Executive Minister and Head of Communion International Council of Community Churches United States Sr. Catherine Murugan Provincial Leader Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux in South Africa South Africa Rev. Brother Emmanuel Mwanalirenji Provincial Marist Brothers Zimbabwe Michael Nasello Director Passionist Solidarity Network United States Sr. Celestine Ndlovu, OP Superior, General Ntaba Maria sisters of the Mother of Divine Love Diocese of Queenstown South Africa Archbishop Thami Ngcana President Council of Independent Churches in South Africa South Africa Fr. Makau Nicholas, IMC Director, JPIC Africa Consolata Missionaries Kenya Rev. B.M. Ngcayisa Former Moderator Presbyterian Church of Africa South Africa Rev. David M. Neuhaus, SJ Emeritus Superior Jesuit Community of the Holy Land Palestine/Israel Moderator Samuel Sithembiso Nkumanda Moderator Presbyterian Church of Africa South Africa Bishop Frank Nubuasah Archbishop Catholic Diocese of Gaborone Botswana Sr. Itumeleng Nthunya General Superior Handmaids of Christ the Priest Sisters South Africa Rev. Pumla Nzimande Presiding Bishop The Methodist Church of Southern Africa South Africa Rev. Jihyun Oh State Clerk of the General Assembly & Executive Director of Presbyterian Life & Witness General Assembly Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) United States Sr. Zelna Oosthuizen, RGS President Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life in Southern Africa South Africa Rev. Teresa Hord Owens General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) United States Brother Michael Perry, OFM Provincial Minister Order of Friars Minor, Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe United States Rev. Rob Peterson President Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada Canada Thao Phi Secretary General Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life South Africa Rev. Nathan D. Pipho Bishop New England Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) United States Bishop Jose Luis Ponce de Leon, IMC Bishop Catholic Diocese of Manzini Eswatini Rev. Sharon Prestemon Associate General Minister (UCC), Co-Executive of Global Ministries United Church of Christ (USA) United States Rev. Dr. M.C. Rajan Executive Secretary Justice, Peace and Development Office Catholic Bishops' Conference of India India Cardinal Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri Bishop and Cardinal Diocese of Huehuetenango Guatemala Elvira Ramirez Executive Director Maryknoll Lay Missioners United States Padre Alberto Remondini President Fondazione Sant'Ignazio Italy Rev. Pater Rolf Präsident of Eastern Europe Help Association Diocesi di Coira Svizzera Switzerland Bishop Peter A. Rosazza Bishop Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, CT United States Rev. Chris Rose Director Amos Trust United Kingdom Bishop Thomas Graham Rose Chairman - Department of Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Dialogue, SACBC Catholic Diocese of Dundee South Africa Rev. Jack Sara President Bethlehem Bible College Palestine/Israel Richard L. Santos President & CEO Church World Service United States Sr. Susan M. Sanders, RSM President Sisters of Mercy of the Americas United States Mako Sekhubedu General Directress Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life Southern Africa (LCCL SA) South Africa Rev. Grace Shim Executive Minister Serve Globally - Evangelical Covenant Church United States Rev. Dr. Ronald Shive Convener Presbyterian Advisory Council Churches for Middle East Peace United States Bishop William Shomali Auxiliary Bishop Catholic Church Palestine/Israel Rt. Rev. Adam J. (Haggagi) Shoemaker Bishop Episcopal Diocese of Long Island United States Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka President of the South African Council of Churches Archdiocese of Cape Town South Africa Andrea Smith Co-Founder and Chair Evangelicals for Justice (E4J) United States Rev. David Steele General Secretary Church of the Brethren United States Rev. Dr. Bishop Kevin L. Strickland Bishop Southeastern Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) United States Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. Bishop; President Catholic Diocese of Lexington; Pax Christi USA United States Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson General Minister and President/Chief Executive Officer United Church of Christ United States Nikki Toyama-Szeto Executive Director Christians for Social Action United States Russell Testa Chair of the Board Churches for Middle East Peace United States Rev. Canon Janet Trisk Member, Advisory Group on Palestine and the Holy Lands Anglican Church of Southern Africa South Africa Bishop Julius C. Trimble General Secretary The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society United States Most Rev. Duncan Theodore Tsoke Bishop of Kimberley Catholic Diocese of Kimberley South Africa Rev. Fr. Joseph Leo Vadakkan Provincial Society of the Divine Word Botswana Canon Dr. Ruth Valerio Director of Programmes, Partnerships & Advocacy Embrace the Middle East United Kingdom Dr. Jimmy Walters Main NGO Representative Sisters of Charity Federation United States Bishop Hope Morgan Ward Ecumenical Officer Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church United States Bishop Rosemarie Wenner Co-Ecumenical Officer The United Methodist Church Germany Rt. Rev. Rodney Whiteman Chairperson Western Cape Provincial Council of Churches South Africa Andrea Williams Provincial Elders’ Conference President Moravian Church in North America, Southern Province United States Apostle Joey Williams Ecumenical Officer, USA Community of Christ, USA Team of Apostles United States Rt. Rev. Dr. Jo Bailey Wells Deputy Secretary General Anglican Communion United Kingdom Rev. James Wheagar President Life Transformer Mission Côte d’Ivoire Archpriest Thomas Zain Vicar General Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America United States Bishop Vincent Mduduzi Zungu Bishop Local Ordinary, Diocese of Port Elizabeth South Africa Additional Individual Signatories Priest J Aguilar Priest Diocese of St. Feliu Catalonia Javier Baeza Atienza Cura Diocesano Capellán del CP San Carlos Borromeo Diócesis de Madrid España Priest José Barroso Priest Arquidiócesis de Braga Portugal Rev. Joseph Baxter Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish Belfast Diocese of Down and Connor Northern Ireland Rev. Father Giovanni Belloni Member of the Missionary Institute Italy Rev. Dr. Joseph Borg Visiting Senior Lecturer University of Malta Malta Mn. Joan Cabot I Barbany Rector de Parròquia Arxidiòcesi de Barcelona Catalonia Dr. Alex Vigueras Cherres Asesor Pastoral Colegio SSCC Manquehue Arquidiócesis de Santiago Chile Mr. Nkululeko Conco Lay Person Anglican Church of Southern Africa South Africa André Daoust Retired Priest Catholic Diocese of Saint-Jérôme-Mont-Laurier Canada Rev. Fr. Michael Debono, SJ School Chaplain Society of Jesus Malta Rev. Dominic Dring Permanent Deacon Diocese of Arundel and Brighton United Kingdom Rev. Thomas Egan Member Priests against Genocide United Kingdom Pbro. Dr. Lucio Florio Professor Arquidiócesis de La Plata Argentina Don Mario Foglia Parrucin Parish Priest Diocese of Biella Italy Jesús Galafate Laico de parroquia Diocesis de Sevilla, España Andalucía Antoni Miró Gallego o.p. Párroco Diocese de Carapeguá Paraguay Rev. Alessandro Francesco Girodo Parish Priest Parroccia SS Martino e Rosa Italy Dr. Claudette Harring Member East Central Synod of WI United States Brother Martin Hunter Member Order of Preachers Ireland Fr. Lacopo Ladarola, OCD Theologian Italy Ms. Elizabeth Lee Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) Canada Rev. Adriano Cunha Lima Xaverian Missionaries Italy Rev. Richard Looney Rev. Deacon United Kingdom Pbro. Lic. Roberto José Ferrari Luján Vicario Parroquial Diócesis de San Isidro Argentina Sr. LeeAnn Mackeprang Sister of the Good Shepherd Diocese of St. Louis, MO United States Rev. Albert Manich Diacon Catholic Diocese of Sant Feliu de Llobregat Spain Destiny Magnett Programs and Outreach Manager Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) United States Rev. John McGowan OCD Sub-Prior Discalced Carmelites United Kingdom P. Albert Moliner Sch P. Doctor Escola Pia Spain Rev. Ivan Montelongo Diocesan Priest Catholic Diocese of El Paso United States Fr. Mokesh Kantilal Morar Organizer Young Christian Students Movement South Africa Ph. D. Rev. Xavier Morlans Vícar Priest Diocese of Barcelona Spain Fra Gianparide Nappi Presbitero Rete Italiana Preti Contro il Genocidio Italy Fr. Paul Nicholson Episcopal Vicar Maronite Archeparchy Cyprus Rev. Dr. Claudia Pastor Nolte-Schamm Trainer and mentor Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Cape Church) South Africa Rev. Javier Ojeda Parroco Diócesis de Madrid Spain Shin-Hwa Park Retired clergy Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea (PPNK) United States Fr. Peter-John Pearson Archdiocese of Cape Town South Africa Fr. Joseph Ralph Promoter of Lectio Divina Dominican Ireland Rev. Umberto Rusconi Diocese of Pavia Italy Fr. Alvar Sanchez Consultant Caritas Apostolic Prefecture Morocco Joaquín Sánchez Consiliario Hermandad Obrera de Acción Católica (HOAC) Spain Rev. Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Gómez Coordinador España y América Latina Red Sacerdotes contra el genocidio Spain Fr. Javier Sánchez González Capellán de la cárcel de Navalcarnero Diócesis de Getafe Spain Fr. Godfrey Solomon Parish Priest Archdiocese of Cape Town South Africa Anne-Marie Stott Writer Diocese in Rome Italy Rev. Dario Vaona Sacerdote Diocese di Verona Italy Fr. John Wababa Peace Advocate Tororo Archdiocese Uganda Dr. Joseph Yi Professor Hanyang University (Political Science) South Korea Padre Alex Zanotelli Father Missionario Comboniano Italy |