3 thousand cities to hold Day of Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land

January 21, 2013 - More than 3 thousand cities are scheduled mark the 5th International Day of Intercession for Peace in the Holy Land on Sunday, January 27. An extra 500 communities have signed up for this initiative since last year’s event. Worldwide priests, religious and laity ensure a chain of 24 hours of prayer. Since 2008, the Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of the month of January and this year coincides with the “International Day in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and prevention of crimes against humanity,” and the anniversary of the liberation of the extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. In his talk on January 1, World Day of Peace, Latin Patriarch Fuad Twal of Jerusalem, said: "Peace betwee8n peoples can be born and grow only if it is first in every person, every family, every religious community, in all people." "I think - said the prelate - that all the means to achieve peace must pass through justice and dialogue, and never through violence. The path is full of pitfalls, but hope guides us and the song of the angels assures us ". The main promoters of the annual initiative are: the National Association of Italian Papaboys, the Apostolate of the "Youth for Life", the chapels of perpetual adoration throughout Italy and the world, groups of Eucharistic Adoration , the Association for the promotion of the extraordinary prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace.