Holy Land youth organize prayer vigil for peace

(Vatican Radio) The young people of the Holy Land will gather in prayer on Saturday to ask the Lord for the gift of peace.

The prayer vigil will take place against a backdrop of escalating violence in which eight Israelis and more than 40 Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks.

Saturday 24 October marks the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Palestine and all Catholic parishes of Palestine Israel and Jordan will open their doors at 8pm for a prayer vigil which is open to all young people: Christians, Muslims and Jews.

The initiative was launched by the Christian Youth of Palestine.

The Chaplain of the Christian Youth of Palestine, Father Bashar Fawadleh,  told Fides news agency that  "Young people want to pray for peace throughout the Middle East, but especially for peace in Jerusalem, which is our city, our capital, the Holy City of peace that these days has again become the scene of blood, violence, oppression and death". 

He said that during the vigil young people of the Holy Land of all religious denominations “can come together to ask God, Almighty and Merciful to touch the hearts of men and to free them from hatred, fear and thirst for revenge".