Archbishop backs 'Candles for Rwanda' initiative
Tuesday 21st July 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has joined other public figures in lighting a candle on camera as part of 'Candles for Rwanda' - a global initiative to mark the 15th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.While lighting his candle at Lambeth Palace, Dr Williams said:
"The tragedy of Rwanda is that for a while, people completely forgot the humanity of their neighbours. People who had lived side by side for generations, people familiar with each other who knew each other well as human beings, suddenly forgot that other people were human beings. And that is always what happens when genocide occurs. The people of Rwanda are rebuilding bravely and prayerfully and hopefully at the moment, and our prayers and our thoughts are with them. All of us join with those prayers, that we may never again, anywhere in the World, forget the humanity of our neighbours; that we may all be prepared to stand alongside our neighbours in love, in solidarity, and in compassion."