The bishop has been outspoken critic of war in Iraq
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The Bishop of Blackburn has called on Christians to protest over the current "human mess" in Iraq.
The Right Reverend Alan Chesters made the announcement in his Easter sermon on Sunday.
During his address at Blackburn Cathedral, Bishop Chesters said the last few months have been filled with "as much gloom as I can ever remember".
Preaching his last Easter sermon before he retires, the bishop called on people to pray and protest over the need for "renewal" in Iraq.
For many families this Easter Day is spent in mourning for the dead or caring for the injured
The Right Reverend Alan Chesters
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He said: "Firstly, as the inevitability of war with Iraq grew, prayer and protest did not seem to be answered in the actions of either side.
"War came, and the horror of human suffering, which for Christians is encapsulated in Jesus' crucifixion, was hourly on our TV screens.
"Sensitive people entered into that suffering as they have done into Christ's suffering for 2000 years."
He said that while the conflict in Iraq was for the "liberation of an oppressed people with a tyrannical ruler", a heavy price has been paid.
'New beginning'
"For many families this Easter Day is spent in mourning for the dead of caring for the injured," he said.
"In that human mess we celebrate the new life of Easter, the promise of a new beginning.
"We must pray and we must protest in whatever way we can that such renewal comes to Iraq."
The bishop also called for prayers in support of Blackburn MP and foreign secretary, Jack Straw.
Bishop Chesters has been an outspoken critic throughout the conflict in Iraq.
When it broke out on 20 March he said "I very much regret that it has come to this".
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