WCC NEWS: WCC Christmas message: “the love of God in Christ is meant indeed for all people, for the whole of creation”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Christmas message, signed by WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, reflects on the love of Christ—a love that is for all. Traditional Ethiopian Orthodox icon from Lalibela. Photo: Philippe Lissac/Godong 23 December 2022 “The joyful message of the first Christmas states that the love of God in Christ is meant indeed for all people, for the whole of creation,” reads the message. “Our time is a time of fear.” Some fear the climate emergency, the message acknowledges. “Many are afraid today that they will no longer be able to feed their children tomorrow,” the message laments. “Others are afraid that military conflicts may cause nuclear disasters.” Fear is leading to increasing hate speech, to a proliferation of conspiracy theories, violations of human rights, and threats to democracy, Sauca writes. “The angel of the first Christmas called the shepherds to have faith in the divine promise of peace on earth and God’s goodwill towards humanity,” the text reads. “Who are people of good will?” They are those who affirm today the dignity of every human being, Sauca writes.  “They are our companions on the pilgrimage of justice, reconciliation, and unity,” he writes. “At the first Christmas, God came to us in Jesus of Nazareth that we may be reconciled with God and become servants of reconciliation.” Special page: WCC Christmas 2022 WCC Christmas message 2022 See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland