Pope leads call for worldwide day of prayer and fasting for peace

Pope Francis praying before the Salus Populi Romani icon at Saint Mary Major in 2019

Source: Archbishops House, LPJ, Vatican News

Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace on Monday, October 7, the first anniversary of the start of the catastrophic conflict in the Holy Land. He said: "In this dramatic hour of our history, while the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to devastate entire peoples and nations," the Christian community is reminded of its call to "put itself at the service of humanity."

Speaking after Mass in St Peter's Square for the opening of the second session of the General Assembly of the Synod, the Pope invited all the Synod members to accompany him on a visit to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on Sunday, October 6, the day before the anniversary, where, he said, he will "address a heartfelt petition to the Virgin" for peace.

"Let us walk together. Let us listen to the Lord. And let us be led by the breeze of the Spirit."

Echoing the Pope's call, Cardinal Vincent Nichols has asked priests and parishioners throughout the diocese of Westminster to pray for peace next Monday, in response to the increase of the intensity and scope of the conflict in Lebanon and Israel.

The 'Cardinal said: "I ask everyone to participate in a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world."

"Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has also invited us to mark next Monday as a day of prayer, penance and fasting for peace in the Holy Land. He speaks of the 'need to pray, to bring our pain and our desire for peace to God.' We need to convert, to do penance, and to implore forgiveness."

"I should be grateful if you could respond to these requests from the Holy Father and the Patriarch in your parish. You will know best how to do that. As 7 October is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, it may be that a public recitation of the Rosary would be appropriate, or perhaps a time of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Those parishioners who are not able to participate in public prayers can be encouraged to pray the Rosary privately, or to mark Monday in some way as a fast day.

"Let us keep in our prayers all who are affected by the violence in the Middle East."

LINKS

Pope's call for day of prayer and fasting for peace: www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-10/pope-7-october-to-be-day-of-prayer-and-fasting-for-peace.html

Jerusalem: Latin Patriarch calls for day of prayer for peace: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/50721