Cytûn’s General Secretary emphasises unity as Welsh faith leaders meet for peace
Earlier in April, and in the context of the Senedd election, eaders of the main faith communities in Wales gathered at the Temple of Peace in Cathays Park in Cardiff on Monday to sign a public statement of solidarity in advance of the forthcoming Senedd elections. The text of the statement can be seen in one of the photos below. Here is the full text of what Dr Cynan Llwyd shared during the event.
“It is a privilege to stand here today, and a particular honour to do so alongside Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders as we affirm this shared commitment to peace and friendship. In days marked by war, fear, division, and uncertainty, this moment matters. It matters because it says, publicly and clearly, that faith need not be a force of suspicion or hostility, but can be a force for healing, courage, and hope.
As a Christian, I want to say plainly why I am here.
“I am here because of Jesus Christ. He, whom Christians follow, is the Prince of Peace. He is the one who taught us that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbour. He is the one whose love was never narrow, tribal, or conditional, but freely given to the overlooked, the outsider, the poor, the wounded, and the stranger. He broke down barriers of hostility. He crossed boundaries others were afraid to cross. He called his followers not to dominate, but to serve; not to inflame hatred, but to make peace. He humbled himself to death. even death on a cross.
“So for Christians and churches, this day should be a reminder of who our Lord is, and therefore of who we are called to be. Peacemakers.
“And to our Muslim and Jewish friends, I want to say this with sincerity and humility: we stand with you in a shared commitment to peace and reconciliation. We honour your presence, your friendship, and your witness. We know that trust is built not only by words spoken in ceremonies such as this, but by relationships, solidarity, and courage shown over time. We are committed to that work.
“I also want to say, gently but unambiguously, that those who wrap cruelty in Christian language, or drape exclusion in religious symbols, do not speak for the faith of Jesus Christ. The politics of contempt, whether seen in Trump, in MAGA, in Unite the Kingdom rallies, in some political parties who are standing for election here in Wales, or in those who carry crosses as badges of division rather than signs of self-giving love, do not represent the Gospel we proclaim. Christ’s cross is not a weapon of fear. It is the sign of reconciling love.
“So may this be more than a signature. May it be a witness. A witness that in Wales we can disagree deeply, yet still walk together with generosity and respect. A witness that hatred will not have the last word.
“And a witness that, by the grace of God, peace is still possible.”