The Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales have called on the Irish and UK governments to offer an open and generous welcome to Ukrainian people seeking refuge.
Following a meeting in London, they issued a joint statement making "heartfelt appeals" in the face of the loss of life, displacement of people and destruction of property in Ukraine.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 1,200,000 people have now fled Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.
The bishops have urged people to open their hearts and respond generously to the many appeals for help and support for all who are fleeing their homeland.
They have asked fellow Christians everywhere, including Patriarch Kirill and all in the Russian Orthodox Church, to join in solidarity in daily spiritual and practical efforts for a ceasefire, for humanitarian outreach and the silencing and laying down of weapons.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has also announced the immediate release of €72,350 to be distributed equally between its relief and development partners Christian Aid (Ireland) and Tearfund, to one of its partner churches, the Reformed Church in Hungary and its relief and development wing, Hungarian Reformed Church Aid.
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has launched a Moderator’s Appeal towards the emergency relief effort.
Reverend Dr David Bruce encouraged the Church to pray for the people of Ukraine asked PCI members across Ireland to give generously to the Church’s partners involved in providing humanitarian aid to those fleeing the conflict and those trying to get aid into Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal for World Aid and Development committed €10,000 from its emergency funds to assist with the humanitarian response to the crisis in Ukraine.
