Pope Francis / Wikimedia Commons (Left), Adobe Stock (Right)
CV NEWS FEED // Pope Francis has declared a day of prayer and fasting for peace in light of the upcoming October 7 anniversary of Hamas’ massacre of Israelis, which marked the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war.
According to an October 2 report from Vatican News, the Pope spoke during Mass at St. Peter’s Square, highlighting the pressing need for peace “in this dramatic hour of our history, while the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to devastate entire peoples and nations.”
Pope Francis said that in these times, the Christian community must “put itself at the service of humanity.”
The Pope’s call aligns with the ongoing sessions of the Synod, and he invited its members to join him on the vigil of the anniversary at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he plans to present a “heartfelt petition” for peace to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
As CatholicVote reported, Iran launched 180 missiles into Israel on the evening of October 1, in response to Israel assassinating an Iranian general involved with the October 7 attack. The October 1 attack, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was “effectively defeated.”
The Vatican News report shared that the Pope’s commitment to prayer and fasting for peace has been a hallmark of his papacy.
Since his election in 2013, he has organized gatherings for prayer in response to various conflicts, including Syria, South Sudan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan, as well as consecrating Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary last year, according to Vatican News.
As reported by CatholicVote, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has also called for a day of prayer, fasting and penance on October 7 in a September 26 letter to his Diocese.
