Document
6 February 2025
The Most Rev’d Dr Martin Modéus
Archbishop of Uppsala and Primate of Sweden
Rev. Karin Wiborn
Church leader in the Uniting Church in Sweden
Rev. Dr Sofia Camnerin
General Secretary of the Christian Council of Sweden
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
By the tender mercy of our God,
The dawn from on high will break upon us,
To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death
To guide our feet into the ways of peace.—Luke 1:79
I write to you today in grief and sadness. Speaking with and for our entire ecumenical fellowship, we in the World Council of Churches have been greatly moved and deeply saddened by reports of the deadly assault at the Campus Risbergska educational complex in Orebro.
We deeply regret the loss of life and the many injuries inflicted by the assailant, and we wish to convey to you and to all the Swedish people our profoundest sympathy.
As we mourn those whose lives were lost, we also grieve with their families, friends, and colleagues. We sympathize with all those in the Orebro community affected by this tragedy.
We in the WCC have had, for so many decades, such a shared commitment in faith and such a close working relationship in service with the church and people of Sweden that our hearts are touched.
Likewise, we are so grateful to you and to the whole Church of Sweden, the Uniting Church of Sweden, the Christian Council of Sweden and its local churches as you reach out in solidarity to console the bereaved, support the local community, and address the deep trauma visited upon the whole of Sweden by this event. We also praise the work of the local Swedish churches and the national church to integrate immigrants, create genuine community, and foster interreligious understanding.
While this tragedy and others like it remain in some measure inexplicable, as people of faith we, like you, know that ours is a God of Life, not death; the God of Peace and Reconciliation, not violence; the God of Love, not hate. With endless compassion and unconditional love, God is always accompanying us in our suffering, nurturing life and working with us to salve our wounds and heal our trauma.
As Christians we find that compassionate love embodied in Jesus’ life, confirmed in his resurrection, and bequeathed to us through the gift of his Spirit. So, despite this tragedy, we lift our heads and commit ourselves to continue walking and working in solidarity with you each day to realize God’s reign of justice, peace, and reconciliation in Sweden and around the world.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
