Archbishop of Canterbury: "World Too Small for Conflict"

The world is too small for conflict, the Archbishop has told a congregation in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

More that 2000 people gathered in the cathedral church of St Mary in Sri Lanka's capital to hear Dr Williams say that despite more efficient communication, divisions across the globe are increasing.

"The fact is that in our age we seem in many ways to be growing further apart," he said, as he listed racial prejudice, national pride, and the division of class and wealth as just some of the global problems that were on the rise.

He was particularly critical of the growing gap between rich and poor, saying that the wealthy were only getting wealthier, while the poor were getting poorer.

"In this global village when we are all supposed to be closer to each other we have found more and more ways of retreating into our own corners, fighting for our own territory," he said.

Dr Williams told the mixed congregation that the violence and hostilities in Sri Lanka demonstrated this but called on Sri Lankans to look to a shared future with hope.

"In this small island the churches of Christ and the other communities of faith continue to witness to a hope that is greater than that, to the hope that the communities of this island will be able to say 'without you I can do nothing...' that the communities of this island will be able to look at one another in hope and not in fear."

He told the congregation to look for a common vision and shared ownership of the world, adding that technology should be used to unite people, rather than divide.

"The whole world is a territory which we must learn to live in together, with a shared ownership, a shared responsibility.

"It is not only this island or my own island that is too small for conflict, the world is too small for conflict and out modern communications and technology should be teaching not how easy it is to spread the messages of fear and paranoia and hatred.

"It should be teaching us that we can grow into a common language, a common vision, a common responsibility," he said.

Dr Williams called on the churches to help foster dialogue across the divides:
"We must keep our bridges in good repair, the bridges for listening and sympathy, hearing the truth from one another, learning what the other's experience is like. And as we do that we shall find, so God promises us, that there is a blessing even from the stranger."

He urged Christians to continue serving all of humanity and "not let one another go until God has blessed us".

Dr Williams will continue his extended visit to South East Asia until this Sunday.