VATICAN: Pope Francis appeals for peace in the Middle East and Africa
The Pope
exhorted bishops to dedicate the Terce prayer “to the intention of
reconciliation and peace in the Middle East”, as he opened the fourth General
Congregation of the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in
Vatican City on the morning of 9 October 2015.
exhorted bishops to dedicate the Terce prayer “to the intention of
reconciliation and peace in the Middle East”, as he opened the fourth General
Congregation of the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in
Vatican City on the morning of 9 October 2015.
The Pope
also launched an appeal to the international community to find a way of
resolving current conflicts, and finally urged the bishops to include in their
prayer all those zones in Africa that are experiencing similar situations of
conflict.
also launched an appeal to the international community to find a way of
resolving current conflicts, and finally urged the bishops to include in their
prayer all those zones in Africa that are experiencing similar situations of
conflict.
“We are
sorely afflicted and follow with profound concern the events in Syria, Iraq,
Jerusalem and Jordan, where we are witnessing an escalation of violence that
affects innocent civilians and continues to provoke a humanitarian crisis of
enormous proportions. War leads to destruction and multiplies the suffering of
the population. Hope and progress come only from the choice to pursue peace.
Let us therefore join in intense and trustful prayer to the Lord, a prayer that
is intended at the same time to be an expression of closeness to our brother
Patriarchs and Bishops present here who come from those regions, to their
priests and faithful, and to all the inhabitants”.
sorely afflicted and follow with profound concern the events in Syria, Iraq,
Jerusalem and Jordan, where we are witnessing an escalation of violence that
affects innocent civilians and continues to provoke a humanitarian crisis of
enormous proportions. War leads to destruction and multiplies the suffering of
the population. Hope and progress come only from the choice to pursue peace.
Let us therefore join in intense and trustful prayer to the Lord, a prayer that
is intended at the same time to be an expression of closeness to our brother
Patriarchs and Bishops present here who come from those regions, to their
priests and faithful, and to all the inhabitants”.
He urged the
international community to “find a way of effectively helping the interested
parties, to broaden their horizons beyond immediate interests and to use the
instruments of international law and diplomacy to resolve current conflicts”.
international community to “find a way of effectively helping the interested
parties, to broaden their horizons beyond immediate interests and to use the
instruments of international law and diplomacy to resolve current conflicts”.
SOURCE: Vatican Information Service, 09 October 2015
