Dr John Alderdice, Archbishops Eamon Martin and John McDowell, Rev Sarah Groves, and Dr Richard Murray
They warned society will have failed future generations if it does not work strenuously to address issues such as rising child poverty.
The clerics also reflected on political developments in 2024, as well as the “pain and sorrow” caused by war and conflict as 2025 dawns.
The joint message comes from Derry-born Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin; Church of Ireland Archbishop John McDowell; Presbyterian Moderator Dr Richard Murray; Methodist President Dr John Alderdice and Rev Sarah Groves, President of the Irish Council of Churches.
The message reflects on the 25 years that have passed since the new millennium.
“The dawn of a new year gives us cause to reflect on the past 12 months and to look forward, with a little trepidation and excitement, to what lies ahead,” they said.
“It is hard to believe that in 2025 we will mark a quarter of a century since the new millennium began.
“At that time there was much fear that on the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 1999 all computer technology, and indeed the world, would grind to a halt and everything as we knew it, would end.
“Those fears were thankfully unfounded yet the world we had hoped to see emerging in this new era, with people living at peace with their neighbours, and with more kindness and respect, has sadly not been realised.
“Instead, we are now living on a planet that is shrouded in the darkness, pain and sorrow of war and violence in so many different places.
“Calls for peace, reconciliation and love for our neighbours have been ignored or unheard.”
There is also a political theme to the church leaders’ message, as they reflected on developments in Irish and British politics.
However, there is also a stark warning to politicians around the need to tackle poverty in modern Ireland.
“In Northern Ireland, we are grateful to have witnessed the restoration of devolved government in the last year, with the Executive and the Assembly sitting once more at Stormont,” they said.
“In coming weeks, it is hoped that a new Irish Government will be formed, following the November Irish General Election.
“The new UK Government is also slowly bedding in and nearing the completion of its first six months in power.
“To govern means making decisions and often difficult choices.
“We continue to pray for all who hold positions of responsibility in this land and throughout the world, that they may be acutely aware of the needs of all people and especially of the poor, neglected and underprivileged, mindful particularly of the high rates of child poverty.
“We will have failed our children and grandchildren if we do not work strenuously to help and support the needs of the next generation, which may mean being prepared to have less for ourselves so that they may have something.
“May we all, in our call to serve one another, provide a voice for the voiceless and work tirelessly for healing and peace locally and internationally, offering help, hope and encouragement to those who will come after us.”
The church leaders also called for the language of hurt and division “to be confined to the past so that the words we use, and the actions we undertake, may be focused on love rather than hate, peace rather than war, light rather than darkness.”
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