Belgrade, Serbia — March 13

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church has issued an urgent appeal to world leaders, warning that a new law in Kosovo could threaten the survival of Serbian Christian communities and the institutions that sustain them.

Porfirije, the Serbian Patriarch, sent a letter to a number of international figures calling for intervention to halt the implementation of a controversial law on foreigners passed in Pristina. Among those addressed were Pope Leo XIV, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Emmanuel Macron, along with the prime ministers of Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The Patriarch also appealed to the leadership of the United Nations and UNESCO.

In his letter, the Patriarch warned that the law could have serious consequences for Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija, particularly in areas where the Serbian population remains concentrated.

According to the Patriarch, the legislation could disrupt the functioning of key Serbian institutions in the region, including the University of Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbian primary and secondary schools, and elements of the local health system that serve the Serbian population. Church officials fear that the law may force closures or administrative restrictions that would undermine these institutions.

Beyond education and healthcare, the Patriarch warned that the measure could further accelerate the departure of Serbs from the region, deepening a demographic decline that has already taken place over decades of conflict and political tension.

Kosovo and Metohija is home to more than 1,300 Christian monuments, many tied to the medieval heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Among them are four sites recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage locations currently listed as “in danger,” including the Visoki Dečani Monastery, Patriarchate of Peć, Gračanica Monastery, and the Church of the Virgin of Ljeviš.

Church leaders warn that instability affecting the Serbian community could also endanger these historic religious sites, which are central not only to Serbian Orthodoxy but to the broader heritage of Eastern Christianity.

Despite the concerns, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church continues to advocate peaceful solutions. He called on authorities and international institutions to safeguard human life, protect religious heritage, and ensure the rights of minority communities in the region.

The Patriarch’s appeal comes amid continuing tensions between Belgrade and Pristina over governance, minority protections, and the status of Serbian institutions operating within Kosovo.

Observers say the situation remains closely watched by international actors, particularly given the region’s history of conflict and the global significance of its Christian monuments.