“He prayed that the churches may be places of refuge, consolation, and practical support for all those affected.

“At this painful moment, we stand alongside the churches and people of Zimbabwe. We join you in prayer, mourning, and compassion.

“United through prayer, we stand in hope that the pain, trauma, and suffering of innocent people will at last come to an end. As we said in June, at our previous Global Prayer for Ukraine, light always triumphs over darkness.

“We are particularly mindful of those who continue to search among collapsed structures and affected areas for those who may still be missing. We also hold before God those communities where access to food, safe drinking water, and medical care remains difficult.

“You reveal yourselves as a community that carries in your hearts all those who have remained at home or are in various other places. For you do not pray only for yourselves, but for your families, the communities from which you come, our region, our country and the whole world.

“We uphold the Armenian Church and its people in prayer at this time. We also express hope and pray that the parties will resolve the conflict for the well-being and prosperity of the entire Armenian people.

“On behalf of the World Council of Churches, I extend our heartfelt solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe, and especially to the families and communities affected by the tragic ferry disaster on Lake Kariba.

“We also hope and pray that an official inquiry will be undertaken, that justice and accountability will be pursued for the victims and their families, and that a comprehensive review of the policies and safety measures governing the protection of civilians will follow, so that such a tragedy may not be repeated. May the God of compassion draw near to all who mourn.