Christians around the world have been invited to join in a global day of prayer for God to end the COVID-19 pandemic on 14th May.
The day is a joint initiative between the World Council of Churches and the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, of which the WCC is part.
Rev Prof Dr Ioan Sauca, acting general secretary of the WCC, says “world unity through prayer reflects our willingness to care for one another”.
“WCC member churches can, from their own places and traditions, support each other, look outwards to the needs of all their neighbours, and strengthen our one human family.”
The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity – which was established last year following the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi last year – issued an invitation for people around the world of different faiths “to implore God to lift this pandemic off us and the entire world, to rescue us all from this adversity”.
The committe also called for prayer “to inspire scientists to find a cure that can turn back this disease, and to save the whole world from the health, economic, and human repercussions of this serious pandemic”.
The Document on Human Fraternity was signed last year at the Global Conference on Human Fraternity which, organised by the Muslim Council of Elders, was attended by representatives from numerous religious traditions including then WCC General Secretary Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb.