Pope Francis at Angelus: Sept 7 day of prayer for peace
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has called for a day of fasting and prayer for peace
in Syria, in the entire Mideast region, and throughout the whole world to be held
this coming Saturday, September 7th, 2013. Speaking ahead of the traditional
Angelus prayer with pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square this Sunday, Pope Francis
said, “On [Saturday] the 7th of September, here [in St Peter’s Square],
from 7 PM until midnight, we will gather together in prayer, in a spirit of penitence,
to ask from God this great gift [of peace] for the beloved Syrian nation and for all
the situations of conflict and violence in the world.” The Holy Father also invited
non-Catholic Christians and non-Christian believers to participate in ways they feel
are appropriate. Listen to our report:
“Never again
war!” said Pope Francis. “We want a peaceful world,” he said, “we want to be men and
women of peace.”
Pope Francis also issued a forceful condemnation of the use
of chemical weapons. “There is the judgment of God, and also the judgment of history,
upon our actions,” he said, “ [judgments] from which there is no escaping.” He called
on all parties to conflicts to pursue negotiations, and urged the international community
to take concrete steps to end conflicts, especially the war in Syria. “Humanity needs
to see gestures of peace,” said Pope Francis, “and to hear words of hope and of peace.”
Kevin
Staley-Joyce is a seminarian at the Pontifical North American College. He was one
of the faithful who heard the Holy Father’s appeal. “We love peace because peace was
taught to us by Christ,” he said, adding, “some of Christ’s most striking words are,
‘Peace be with you!’ and this is a much more general message to us than we might imagine.”