Archbishop to pray for Middle East peace in first Easter sermon
Archbishop to pray for Middle East peace in first Easter sermon
Dame Sarah Mullally, the newly installed Archbishop of Canterbury, will deliver her first Easter sermon with a focus on peace in the Middle East. Her address will highlight the need for an end to “violence and destruction” amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict against Iran, which has entered its sixth week. She will urge the audience at Canterbury Cathedral to pray for the peace, justice, and freedom that people in the region deeply seek.
The sermon will follow her recent appointment as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, a milestone she reflected on during her installation in late March. Speaking at the ceremony, she mentioned how her teenage self could never have anticipated her future role. “This vigil of care is the work of remaining—of staying present in the quiet and the dark,” she will say, later paying tribute to caregivers and those supporting loved ones in hospitals or hospices.
Easter Message and Conflict Context
During the sermon, Dame Sarah will connect the resurrection of Jesus to the current crisis. “This week our gaze and our prayers have been turned towards the land where Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead,” she will state. “Today, as we shout with joy that Christ is risen, let us pray and call with renewed urgency for an end to the violence and destruction in the Middle East and the Gulf.”
“I pray you know that God walks with you through that darkness,” she will add, addressing those grappling with personal hardships such as illness or loss.
The conflict began on 28 February, with US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggering retaliatory attacks on Israeli and Gulf allies. Over the past six weeks, thousands are reported to have been killed in the escalating violence. Israel has since expanded its operations into Lebanon after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, prompting further strikes.
Preaching from St John’s Gospel, the archbishop will emphasize the resurrection of Jesus as a moment of hope. She will also reference the grief of Mary, who waited at the tomb, as a symbol of enduring faith in the face of loss. Her leadership comes after Justin Welby resigned in 2024 due to criticism over his handling of a major abuse case, marking the beginning of her ministry in a global church facing divisions over topics like female leadership and sexuality.
