Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC, 2019.
In the wake of a tragic
explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, the World Council of Churches (WCC) sent
condolences and called for prayers for those who lost loves ones, for
the injured, and for the ongoing work of the rescue teams.
In a letter addressed to the member churches in
Lebanon and the Middle East Council of Churches, WCC interim general
secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed deep compassion and
solidarity on behalf of the global fellowship. “I offer my heartfelt
condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this
tragedy and pray for a swift recovery to the thousands who are injured,”
Sauca wrote. “Be assured that our churches worldwide are praying for
the victims among you, the rescue teams, the families affected, and all
the Lebanese people traumatized by this tragic incident.”
Sauca called upon God’s mercy, love and grace that
the Lebanese people may be empowered with strength to move forward.
“Lebanese people need all possible humanitarian aid to survive this
tragedy, heal their injured victims and reconstruct their homes,
hospitals, churches and work places in the midst of an already very
difficult economic, financial, political and social context,” the letter
reads.