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Easter messages offered by leaders across the global Anglican Communion

April 21, 2025

[Anglican Communion News Service] In recent days, provinces and dioceses of the global Anglican Communion have been sharing Easter messages of hope. Here is a selection of messages from around the world. The Anglican Communion signs joint Easter Message The Anglican Communion is one of 12 world Christian Communions that have released a unified message to mark the joint celebration of Easter and the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. The joint letter can be found here. A message from Sudan The Most Rev. Ezekiel Kumir Kondo, archbishop of the province of Sudan and bishop of Khartoum, shared a message of lamentation about the continued conflict in Sudan writing: “This is the second Easter and the second anniversary many of us still celebrate Easter outside our country, churches and our homes. Many still celebrate Easter separated from their families and their loved ones.” His message also celebrated the hope Jesus brings: “May you know the love and the power of the Risen Christ this Easter. It is also my prayer and hope that we will celebrate Easter in our country, in our churches and with our families, friends and our loved ones the coming year 2026. May the Divine intervention bring peace to our beloved Sudan.” His message can be read here. Messages from Australia The Most Rev. Geoffrey Smith, archbishop of Adelaide and primate of Australia, shared a message of hope amid the recent turbulence in the world’s economy. “Our world desperately needs hope. But we also need a reason to have different attitudes and to live in a loving, generous, forgiving, gracious, and peace-filled way today.  The reason is what happened at Easter: the self-offering of Jesus, through which peace with God is possible, and the resurrection of Jesus, to prove that reconciliation is real and to begin the invasion of darkness by light and life.” Read his Easter message here. The Most Rev. Kay Goldsworthy, archbishop of Perth, shared a story about the parallels between the Easter story of resurrection and transformation and that of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis. She recounts, “It was a lovely, lovely reminder of the promise of Easter. Of the hope that sits within us who are believers, followers, disciples of Jesus.” She went on to encourage local communities to engage with the Anglican Church of Australia’s evangelism initiative, HOPE 25, between Easter and Pentecost. Watch her full address here. Find out more about HOPE 25 here. The Most Rev. Jeremy Greaves, archbishop of Brisbane, shared a hope-filled message in which he said, “Easter reminds us that God is not finished, that death and despair don’t have the final word. The resurrection is not an escape from the world’s pain but a defiant proclamation that love is stronger than hate, life is stronger than death, and hope is never in vain.” Watch his address here. A message from Jerusalem The Most Rev. Hosam Naoum, the Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East states, “Divine justice is found at the core of the Resurrection. This is not a justice measured by earthly standards, but one that lifts the oppressed and liberates the captive. For while we witness the climax of injustice on the cross, we see the pinnacle of justice in the Resurrection. God did not leave Christ in the tomb. Likewise, God will not leave God’s people in oppression.” Read his message here. The province recently spoke out about the air strike on the al-Ahli hospital on Palm Sunday. Read it here. Messages from North America The Most Rev. Anne Germond, acting primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Rt. Rev. Susan Johnson, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, shared a joint message about the wonder of the Resurrection. Watch the joint message here. The Rt. Rev. Mary Irwin Gibson, bishop of Montreal, Canada, shared a reflective message for Easter. In her video address, she said, “I want to encourage you on your journey following Jesus to not be afraid […] but also to understand that the journey takes various turns and that sometimes we’re aware of Jesus’ presence and sometimes we’re not. And yet, He is with us always until the end of time.” Watch her address here. Messages from the Diocese in Europe The Rt. Rev.  Andrew Norman, shared his first Easter message as suffragan bishop in Europe. He highlights the repeated and hopeful use of the word “but” in the book of Acts in speeches by the Apostles. He encourages Christians to consider that word as they look around at the world this Easter. “Let’s keep in mind that ‘but.’ Destructive forces killed Jesus of Nazareth, but God raised him from the dead.” See his full address here Messages from Ireland The Most Rev. John McDowell (the archbishop of Armagh and primate of All Ireland) and the Most Rev. Eamon Martin (the archbishop of Armagh and primate of All Ireland in the Roman Catholic Church) reflect on the hope that springtime brings in terms of new life and growth and encourage followers of Jesus to “nurture the green shoots of reconciliation and peace.” They also highlighted that the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the common date of Easter this year reminds us that “despite long-lasting tensions and divisions at the time between Christians of different traditions, the council was able to find agreement on a common ‘Creed’ or statement of belief.” Read their full statement here. The Most Rev. Michael Jackson, the archbishop of Dublin, shared a message exploring how Christians can share Easter hope with a “disinterested world.” He reflects, “We are to start small and to start sincere. We are to continue strong and to share generously. We are to identify with the people we do not know or understand. We are to let ourselves be tested in the encounters that will be sprung upon us. We are to let God talk […]