Archbishop of Wales Discusses Christmas Loneliness and Church Safeguarding Failures

The Archbishop of Wales has expressed his hope that no individual will experience feelings of being forgotten this Christmas. In his yearly festive address, Archbishop Andrew John observed that for “too many people,” this period can be characterized by loneliness or grief. However, he also stated that it can “also bring hope” and encouraged individuals to “discover signs that can bring light, love and joy.” The Archbishop conveyed his wish that “all may find comfort, peace and the promise of brighter days to come.” He further noted that Christmas is “made all the harder by the level of festive cheer.” He elaborated, “We’re surrounded by party tinsel, gifts galore, more food than anyone could think of eating and the chorus of those Christmas hits from yesteryear that remind us we really should be having fun.” Archbishop John remarked that “Grief and loneliness have no blueprint, no easy solutions, there are no shortcuts.” He added, “However, we are not without hope because Christmas can surprise us with moments of connection – a kind word from a stranger, a phone call with an old friend or the joy of reaching out to someone who needs to know they’re remembered.” He reiterated, “My prayer is that no one will feel forgotten this Christmas and that all may find comfort, peace, and the promise of brighter days to come.” In a separate recent interview with BBC Wales, Andrew John also stated that the Church is “not doing enough” to protect people from abuse. He indicated that while he was satisfied with the efforts being made to enhance safety within churches, he also added that the Church “could be doing even more.” This statement follows a challenging period for the Church of England, which has come after a damning report detailing its cover-up of prolific abuse committed by the barrister John Smyth. The report’s findings led to the resignation of the Anglican church’s most senior figure, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and also prompted calls for the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell to resign regarding his handling of a sexual abuse case. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.