As the Archbishop of Canterbury explained in the beginning of his speech last Friday in the House of Lords “We are all invited to join Pope Francis in making Ash Wednesday—next Wednesday—a day of fasting and prayer for peace.” I have provided more of the text at the beginning of his speech below. However the speech took place in this debate that involved a significant number of other members of the House of Lord. Many of the speeches were focusing on the calls to the Government or the statements from the Government of this current focus. As it happens Baroness Goldie who started the Ukraine debate and made a number of statements beginning with “Today, once again, we urge Russia in the strongest possible terms to call off its attack and return to the diplomatic table” but she also also later on in her speech stated “It goes without saying that our thoughts and prayers remain with the Ukrainian people, many of whom have family and friends in the UK, and who now find themselves under attack for no reason whatsoever.” Here is the first paragraph from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

My Lords, noble Lords may have seen that my most reverend friend the Archbishop of Canterbury and I have already spoken about the unprovoked attack on Ukraine as a great act of evil. This is indeed a dark hour for Europe. We have called on Anglican churches to make this coming Sunday a day of prayer for peace and on Tuesday encourage parishes to join the Anglican diocese in Europe in prayer at 6 pm, especially for those who minister and witness for peace in Ukraine itself, where we have chaplaincies and minister alongside other denominations and faith communities. We are all invited to join Pope Francis in making Ash Wednesday—next Wednesday—a day of fasting and prayer for peace.