The statement also referenced Pope Leo XIV and his 2026 Message for the World Day of Peace, which described the peace of Christ as “unarmed and disarming.”
A Europe-wide Catholic justice network has issued a public statement backing the people of Greenland, as the Arctic territory faces mounting pressure, not only in the political realm but also climate issues and social disruption.
The statement, released January 20 from Dijon and Copenhagen, comes from Justice & Peace Europe, a family of 30 national Justice and Peace commissions across Europe.
These commissions are mandated by Catholic bishops in their respective countries to work on human development, social justice, peace-building, and care for creation, drawing on Catholic Social Teaching.
While Justice & Peace Europe is not a decision-making body of the Catholic hierarchy, it serves as a coordinated voice for episcopally mandated social justice work at the European level.
In its declaration, the network expressed “profound solidarity” with Greenland’s population, stressing that the island should not be viewed primarily through a strategic or economic lens.
“Greenland is not merely a strategic territory,” the statement said, “but the homeland of a people with a distinct culture, language and deep relationship with their land and creation.”
The statement was signed by the co-presidents of Justice & Peace Europe, Archbishop Antoine Hérouard and Danish theologian Maria Hammershoy.
It situates Greenland’s situation within broader Catholic concerns about human dignity, participation in public life, and environmental responsibility, arguing that development must respect cultural identity and the rights of future generations.
Focus on the people
According to the text, decisions affecting Greenland should be guided by dialogue, meaningful participation of local communities, and the common good, rather than external political or economic interests alone.
The statement also referenced Pope Leo XIV and his 2026 Message for the World Day of Peace, which described the peace of Christ as “unarmed and disarming.”
Justice & Peace Europe cited this language to underscore its call for approaches based on trust, dialogue, and respect for human dignity, rather than fear or domination.
Local church voices in Greenland were highlighted as part of this appeal. Father Majcen, parish priest in Nuuk, was quoted as saying, “As people of faith, we are called to be peacemakers, especially in uncertain times.”
The network said it was echoing concerns raised by the Danish Commission for Justice and Peace, as well as by Paneeraq Siegstad Munk, head of Greenland’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Justice & Peace Europe also aligned itself with appeals from the World Council of Churches, which has called for respect for the inalienable rights of Greenland’s people. The statement noted shared prayer with Lutheran bishops across the Kingdom of Denmark and emphasized the importance of international law and solidarity in relations among nations.
The declaration concludes with a call to “all actors of good will” to stand with Greenland’s people, protect their dignity, safeguard the natural environment, and pursue peaceful and just paths toward a stable future.
