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31st March, 2003
Communique by the Heads of Churches in the Middle East
It saddens us profoundly to see the failure of efforts for peace in Iraq exerted by many parties
throughout the world. In fact, governments, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, the World
Council of Churches and regional councils of churches, and millions of people crying out in
various cities throughout the world worked for a peaceful solution to prevail over the solution of
war. Today we have witnessed the start of a military campaign against the people and the land of
Iraq. Nobody knows how long it will last or what impact it will have not just upon the people of
Iraq but also upon the entire Middle East. Furthermore, there is no predicting the impact that the
unilateral American decision for war will have upon the United Nations and international
organizations, their credibility and their effectiveness in solving conflicts through negotiated
agreements. They will be severely weakened, their authority shaken, their very existence
threatened.
Churches around the world condemned this war as immoral. They have said this firmly and with
conviction ever since this crisis began to develop. More specifically, they have condemned this
war for its disregard of principles of international law, its ambivalence to the most basic human
values and rights, its potential for tragic human repercussions in Iraq and the Middle East region,
as well as its threat of aggravating tensions between religions, giving substance to the false thesis
that there is an inevitable clash of civilizations, cultures and religions.
What we feared and labored to avert has happened. Now, in our responsibility as heads of
churches, caretakers of God’s creation and as fellow humans, we have added responsibilities, and
as such:
* We will continue to exert our efforts with all parties concerned and all who may have an
effective voice both internationally and regionally so as to limit the temporal and geographical
expansion of the war, spare innocent civilians, and bring it to a halt as quickly as possible.
* We call especially upon those governments that opposed this war and upon international
organizations concerned with health, relief, development and human rights to hasten in helping
those who have been hit by this war, helping them avert the dangers that threaten their lives, their
possessions, and their right to live a dignified life.
* We urge the Middle East Council of Churches and all humanitarian organizations to remain on a
state of high alert in marshalling, intensifying and directing social and humanitarian services both
now and for as long as required in order to help those stricken by this war, especially in Iraq.
* We call on all the members of our churches and all citizens of our countries to strengthen their
unity and solidarity with each other, resisting all foreign incursions and self- interested, extremist
interferences that seek to undermine our national unity and fraternal coexistence.
* We call upon our faithful, our fellow citizens, and all who love peace throughout the world, each
in his or her own way, to lift up their hearts in ardent and sustained prayer to our God that He may
open the eyes and clear the vision of political decision-makers to see clearly God’s will and work
for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, not only for Iraq but also for the Middle East and the
whole world.
Beirut, 21 March 2003
Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Catholicos Aram I
Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim
Archbishop Chrysothomos
Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir
Patriarch Nerses Pedros XIX
Patriarch Ignatious Butros VIII
Patriarch Gregorious III Lahham