The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

13th April 2026

13 April 2026

Peace and Dialogue: the Gospel Response to Conflict

The Bishops of Scotland today renew their urgent appeal to political leaders across the world to pursue peace with courage, determination, and sincerity. In a time marked by deepening conflict and human suffering, particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and South Sudan, the need for dialogue and diplomatic solutions has never been more pressing.

War brings devastation, loss, and division. It leaves lasting wounds in families, communities, and nations, and it disproportionately harms the innocent. The Bishops call on all those in positions of authority to reject the path of escalation and instead commit themselves to meaningful dialogue, patient negotiation, and the difficult but necessary work of peacebuilding.

The Bishops express their gratitude to Pope Leo for his clear and consistent voice in calling for peace. His leadership continues to be a guiding light for the Church and the world at this critical time.

Reflecting on the Holy Father’s recent Vigil for Peace held last Saturday, the Bishops highlight his powerful words:
“Let us silence the weapons, so that the voice of humanity may be heard. Let us choose encounter over confrontation, and the courage of peace over the illusion of power.”

The Bishops of Scotland invite Catholics across our country to join the Holy Father in this appeal. In parishes, homes, and communities, we continue to pray fervently for an end to violence and for the triumph of justice and reconciliation.

The Bishops urge all people of goodwill to stand together in hope. Peace is not beyond reach - but it requires genuine humility, courage, and a shared commitment to the dignity of every human life.

As the Holy Father begins his apostolic journey to several countries in Africa as a missionary of peace, we assure him of our continued prayers and solidarity.

Image: Pope Leo XIV by Edgar Beltrán / Wikimedia Commons

20th March 2026

20 March 2026

Statement from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Following a request from the Holy See, the Bishops of Scotland have been invited to reflect on how the structures of the Church in our country can best serve her mission in the years ahead, specifically whether the present situation of eight dioceses is suitable.

We are all aware of the challenges before us — fewer clergy, changing patterns of practice, and increasing pressures on our diocesan resources, among other things. Yet our mission remains unchanged: to proclaim the Gospel and to lead our people to Christ.

Two possible pathways are being proposed for careful discernment: developing deeper cooperation and the sharing of resources across dioceses within our present structures, or the merging of some dioceses.

In order to best inform ourselves and the Holy See, each bishop will engage with his diocese over the coming months for the first part of this process. Everyone will be given the opportunity to pray, reflect, and contribute.

Following-on from the presentation of a discussion paper, responses from each diocese will contribute to the initial findings which will be given to the Holy See in the Autumn.

This is not simply an administrative exercise. It is a pastoral and missionary response to our changing landscape. This process will ensure our Church in Scotland will continue to grow ever more missionary, more Christ-centred, and more collaborative in the service of God’s people.

Entrusting this work to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to the intercession of Our Lady, we move forward together with confidence and renewed hope.

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

The Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland work together to undertake nationwide initiatives through their Commissions and Agencies.

The members of the Bishops' Conference are the Bishops of the eight Scottish Dioceses. Where appropriate the Bishops Emeriti (retired) provide a much welcomed contribution to the work of the conference. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is a permanently constituted assembly which meets regularly throughout the year to address relevant business matters.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Empty
Click + to add content

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: Justice & Peace Scotland FacebookReturn

September 2025

14Sep

✨ Commemorating 60 Years of SCIAF

14 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

✨ Commemorating 60 Years of SCIAF

Yesterday we were privileged to join with people from across Scotland at St Columbkille’s Church in Rutherglen where Bishop Brian McGee celebrated Mass to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of our close friends and frequent collaborators, SCIAF.

While SCIAF themselves reminded us that it is not a cause for celebration that their mission has been so urgently needed for six decades, we believe it is most certainly a moment to honour and give thanks for the work they do and impact they have had. For sixty years SCIAF has been a prophetic voice for justice and compassion, tirelessly working for a world free from poverty, where every person can flourish and where humanity lives in right relationship with God's creation.

We are deeply grateful for SCIAF’s witness and action on behalf of Scotland’s Catholic community and we look forward to continuing to work alongside them in the shared mission of building God’s Kingdom of justice and peace.

13Sep

This content isn't available right now

13 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🎥 In Episode 4 of "Palestinian Life Under Israel’s Illegal Occupation" we look at The Separation Wall built around the West Bank.

The wall, deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice, is not built on the border between the West Bank and Israel but instead 85% of its 700km length is built inside the West Bank border - encroaching in on Palestinian land, isolating communities and annexing farmland. It blocks farmers from their fields, children from their schools, and families from each other.

For people who are cut off by the wall, they now have to take hours-long journeys to get around it and hope they are granted access through checkpoints on the way.

While Palestinians are penned in by the wall, settlers in illegal settlements are connected by 1661km of settler-only roads.

📢 Share the stories in this video told by West Bank Palestinians. Demand an end to illegal settlements.

🎬This episode is part of a series. All episodes so far are on our page.

#StopSettlements #EndTheOccupation #WestBank #Palestine
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

13Sep

🎥 In Episode 4 of "Palestinian Life Under Israel’s Illegal Occupation" we look at The Separation Wall built around the West Bank

13 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

12Sep

🎥 In Episode 3 of "Palestinian Life Under Israel’s Illegal Occupation" we hear from Suha about her daily commute from Nablus to ...

12 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🎥 In Episode 3 of "Palestinian Life Under Israel’s Illegal Occupation" we hear from Suha about her daily commute from Nablus to her job in Ramallah. It should take 45 minutes but recently it took 2 hours. Long queues, arbitrary delays, and invasive checks by the military have become a regular part of life under occupation.

While Israeli settlers living in illegal settlements drive freely on segregated roads, Palestinians like Suha are held back at military checkpoints, treated as intruders in their own land.

This is not about security. It’s about control.

📢 Share their stories. Demand an end to the injustice of illegal settlements.

#StopSettlements #EndTheOccupation #WestBank #Palestine

12Sep

This content isn't available right now

12 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

10Sep

This content isn't available right now

10 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🎥"Palestinian Life Under Israel's Illegal Occupation" - Episode 2: Demolitions and Forced Displacement.

Entire Palestinian communities are being bulldozed to make way for illegal Israeli settlements. Families in Masafer Yatta, Jordan Valley, East Jerusalem and the refugee camps in the occupied West Bank watch their homes vanish, schools flattened and their futures erased.

In Episode 2 of this series made by Palestinians we explore the shocking fact that nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced internally since 2009. All to make way for Israeli settlements that are illegal under international law.

💭Did you know about the extent of this displacement?

📢 Share the stories. Demand an end to the injustice of illegal settlements.

#StopSettlements #EndTheOccupation #WestBank #Palestine
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

10Sep

"Palestinian Life Under Israel's Illegal Occupation" - Episode 2: Demolitions and Forced Displacement

10 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

09Sep

This content isn't available right now

09 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🎥"Palestinian Life Under Israel's Illegal Occupation" - Episode 1: Land Confiscation and Impact on Agriculture.

Palestinian farmers are being pushed off their lands by the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and militarised land seizure. Fertile soil turned barren, livelihoods uprooted, communities forced into poverty.

Communities in the occupied West Bank like Deir Ballout, Salfeet, and Masafer Yatta now face destruction, pollution and dispossession.

This is the reality of life under occupation.

📢 Share their story. Demand an end to the injustice of illegal settlements.

🎥 This is Episode 1 in a series produced by Palestinians. We'll share Episode 2 tomorrow.

#StopSettlements #EndTheOccupation #WestBank #palestine
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

09Sep

📢SAVE THE DATE: Join us for the Scotland Demands Better march!

09 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📢SAVE THE DATE: Join us for the Scotland Demands Better march!

🗓️ Saturday 25th October
📍 Edinburgh - leaving from the Scottish Parliament

Over 1 million people in Scotland are living in poverty. We're joining hundreds of people and organisations marching in Edinburgh to demand better jobs, better investment, and better social security.

More details on our meeting point and exact time to follow. Let's come together to demand a Scotland where all can live with dignity.

08Sep

This content isn't available right now

08 Sep, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🎥 "Palestinian Life Under Israel’s Illegal Occupation" - A powerful new video series produced by Palestinians calling on the world to witness and act.

💬"What about the West Bank?"
This was the question heard many times by Justice & Peace Scotland's Anne-Marie Clements when she visited the Holy Land earlier this year.

Palestinians she spoke with in the villages of Bethlehem, Aboud, Taybeh and Ramallah were fearful that as the world's eyes watch the horrors unfolding in Gaza, the actions of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank would worsen and go unnoticed.

From land confiscation, to settler violence, home demolitions, military check points and water control, Israel's illegal occupation is consistently uprooting and disrupting Palestinian lives.

Over the coming days we will be sharing short clips produced by Palestinians showing the struggles of daily life in the occupied West Bank.

This is the reality. This is their voice. 📢

#WestBank #StopSettlements #EndTheOccupation
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.