Day of Prayer, Fasting and Penance for Peace

At his Wednesday General Audience last week (October 18), Pope Francis issued an appeal for prayer and fasting on behalf of peace in the Holy Land:

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 fall silent! Let us heed the cry for peace of populations, of the people, of the children! Brothers and sisters, war does not solve any problem: it sows only death and destruction, foments hate and proliferates revenge. War cancels out the future. I urge believers to take just one side in this conflict: that of peace. But not with words — with prayer, with total dedication. With this in mind, I have decided to call for a day of fasting and prayer, of penance, on Friday 27 October, 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 6 p.m., 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.

In response to the Holy Father’s appeal, Bishop Malesic is asking that every diocesan parish, school, and institution encourage prayer, fasting and penance in some form on Friday, October 27.

Resources

Social Media Graphics: Prayer, Fasting, Penance | Day of Prayer with Cross | Day of Prayer Graphic

Pope St. John Paul II Prayer for Peace (pdf; 2 per page)

Pope Francis Prayer for Peace (pdf; 2 per page)