Scotland's Bishops implore Patriarch Kirill to seek peace in Ukraine

In an impassioned plea to the head of the Orthodox Church in Russia, Patriarch Kirill, Scotland's Catholic Bishops have urged him to "intervene with the President of Russia to bring this tragedy to an end". Highlighting the death of innocent people, the letter points out that "the beauty and power of the Orthodox faith is a message of peace".

The letter is signed by the President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert on behalf of all the bishops of Scotland.

The full text follows:

His Holiness
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia
22 Danolovsky cal,
Danilov Monastery,
11591 Moscow, Russia 13th April 2022

Your Holiness,

THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE

As the situation in Ukraine continues to worsen and innocent people are being killed and injured, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland implore your Holiness to intervene with the President of Russia to being this tragedy to an end. The beauty and power of the Orthodox faith is a message of peace and inclusion for our world that seeks to break down barriers "that they may all be one".

This holy season of Lent is a call for a conversion of heart not for destruction and death. We are all called to die to sin, to die to our selfishness, our national interests, and to seek a new way of reconciliation and peace. May Our Lord Jesus Christ who transformed an instrument of torture and death to become the tree of eternal life, shine on us this Easter, especially the people of Ukraine and Russia. May we imitate the beloved disciple who did not flee through fear but stood united with our Lord and His blessed Mother at the foot or the cross and made a home for her in his house.

We pray for Your Holiness , for the Orthodox Church, the peoples of Ukraine and Russia.

May Our Lady , Queen of Peace, intercede for all of us.

With sentiment of respect and esteem,

Yours sincerely in Christ

Hugh Gilbert OSB
Bishop of Aberdeen
President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland