Pope Francis has called for a global day of prayer and fasting on October 7 to mark the one-year anniversary of the Irsael-Hamas war amid escalating violence in the Holy Land.
“I ask everyone to take part in a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world,” he said on October 2nd.
Pope Francis made this announcement during the opening Mass for the second assembly of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican, which is taking place from October 2nd to the 27th.
Pope Francis also said that he will personally go to Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major on Sunday to pray the Rosary on the eve of the anniversary. He invited members of the Synod to join him and participate in the day of prayer and fasting to seek peace through Mary’s intercession.
“In this dramatic hour of our history, as the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to devastate entire peoples and nations,” Pope Francis said, “the Christian community is always at the service of humanity.”
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, shared a prayer earlier for peace and encouraged Catholics to pray the Rosary during the Marian month of October. Pray it below:
Prayer for peace
Lord our God,
Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and Father of all mankind,
Who, through the cross of Your Son and the gift of His own life,
wished at great cost to destroy the wall of enmity and hostility
that separates peoples and makes us enemies:
Send into our hearts the gift of the Holy Spirit,
that He may purify us from every feeling of violence, hatred, and revenge.
Enlighten us to understand the irrepressible dignity of every human person,
and inflame us with a consuming desire for a peaceful, reconciled world
founded in truth, justice, love, and freedom.
Almighty and eternal God,
in Your hands lie the hopes of all men and the rights of every people.
Grant wisdom to those who govern us,
so that, with Your help,
they may become sensitive to the sufferings of the poor
and those affected by violence and war.
May they work to promote the common good
and lasting peace in our region and throughout the world.
Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope,
obtain the gift of peace
for the Holy Land that gave birth to you
and for the whole world.
Amen.
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