Churches Long for “World Peace and Reconciliation” on the 60th Anniversary of D-Day

June 6th marks the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. On June 6th 1944, allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, forcing German troops to retreat from Nazi occupied Europe and thus signalling the turning point of World War II.

In memory of this day, ecumenical bodies of Churches in France, Germany, Canada, United States and Britain and Ireland have made a joint statement urging their governments to promote "reconciliation and peace" and expressing their gratitude to the "heroism of those who freed us from the Nazi yoke".

“It required two world wars for Europe to renew its allegiance to democracy and to outlaw war,” noted the statement, “Europe is now gathered around its values which are liberty, solidarity, and peace.”

The churches are glad to see these values, which have been finally adopted by paying a high price, which have “allowed Europe to overcome the divisions of yesterday and to take the path of unity, and must be shared today as widely as possible, on behalf of a world divided between rich and poor, and wounded by far too many active wars.”

The world nowadays is still troubled by the remanet of the wars, so the churches call on political leaders to gather and solve the problem. “We call upon those governments that are joining together on 6th June on the beaches of Normandy to accept that they bear the same responsibility as sixty years ago: to give to the world the means of reconciliation and peace,” said the statement.

Conference of European Churches' president took the initiative to draw up the statement. The statement was signed by national church councils in the US, France, Germany, Canada, and Britain and Ireland, gathering Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches. Except for the US, those councils also include the Roman Catholic Church. This is an ecumenical opportunity for churches to unite together for peace.

Apart from this statement, some events will be held on D-day. Especially at Normandy in France, a major ecumenical service is to take place at the cathedral of Bayeux, the first city in Normandy to be liberated in 1944. Participants will include the Conference of European Churches' president, the Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, who is also president of the Protestant Federation of France. Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, the Vatican's Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is expected to attend as well.

Reformed church in France is organising an ecumenical procession on the night of the 5th to 6th June along the beaches where the landings took place.