In the past weeks we have looked on with horror at the killing of so many people in Israel and the loss of life in Gaza. We have dreaded what might follow for women, children and women in the area.
Pope Francis has named Friday, 27 October as a day of penance and fasting for peace. In Rome there will be an evening hour of prayer for peace. He has asked Catholic churches around the world to hold similar services.
It is significant that Pope Francis has called for a day of penance. In wars he has called for peace and offered to mediate to free hostages. He has also has consistently resisted pressure to take side. In criticising such actions as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Hamas attacks in Israel and the indiscriminate killing of civilians, he has focused on the evil of war and the taking and ruining of lives that it involves. He calls for negotiations and peacemaking in all conflicts.
The passion of Pope Francis in deploring the lives lost in war and the lasting poisoning of relationships that it causes can be seen in the speech in which he announced the day of penance.
‘Today too, dear brothers and sisters, our thoughts turn to Palestine and Israel. The number of victims is rising and the situation in Gaza is desperate. Please, let everything possible be done to avoid a humanitarian disaster. The possible widening of the conflict is disturbing, while so many war fronts are already open in the world. May weapons be silenced, and let us heed the cry for peace of the poor, the people, the children . . .
Brothers and sisters, war does not solve any problem: it sows only death and destruction, foments hate, proliferates revenge. War cancels out the future, it cancels out the future. I urge believers to take just one side in this conflict: that of peace. But not in words – in prayer, with total dedication.
With this in mind, I have decided to call for a day of fasting and prayer on Friday, 27 October, a day of penance to which I invite sisters and brothers of the various Christian denominations, those belonging to other religions and all those who have at heart the cause of peace in the world, to join in as they see fit. That evening, at 6pm at Saint Peter’s, we will spend an hour of prayer in a spirit of penance to implore peace in our time, peace in this world. I ask all the particular Churches to participate by arranging similar activities involving the People of God.’