Pope Francis calls for a day of fasting and prayer for peace in the Holy Land

Pope Francis invited the faithful to live a day of prayer and fasting for peace next Monday, October 7, one year after the start of the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.

This call to prayer for the cessation of the war in the Middle East was made at the end of the inaugural Mass of the second session of the assembly of the Synodality of Synodality, celebrated this morning.

Before the faithful present in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis also indicated that next Sunday, October 6, he will go to the Roman basilica of Santa María Maggiore to pray the holy Rosary for peace.

At the conclusion of his homily this Wednesday, the Pontiff exhorted the participants in the Synod to resume this “ecclesial path” with an eye toward the world, since “the Christian community is always at the service of humanity, to announce to all the joy of the Gospel.”

He also stressed that this is especially necessary at this “dramatic hour in our history, while the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to disturb entire peoples and nations.”

“To invoke the gift of peace from the intercession of the Most Holy Mary, next Sunday I will go to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where I will pray the holy Rosary and address a fervent supplication to the Virgin,” he noted.

This basilica has a special meaning for the Holy Father, since it is the place he visited the morning after being elected Pontiff, on March 14, 2013, to entrust his Petrine ministry before the icon of Mary Salvation of the Roman Peopleprotector of the Roman people.

In fact, Pope Francis visits Santa María Maggiore, one of the four papal basilicas, before and after each apostolic trip as part of a tradition and a gesture of deep devotion.

Furthermore, he stated that he wishes to be buried in this basilica due to the great devotion he has to the Virgin.

The Pontiff also invited the members of the Synod to accompany him in praying this rosary and finally asked the faithful to live “a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world” on Monday, October 7.

One year has passed since the war in the Holy Land

On October 7, 2023, the terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel, killing thousands of civilians and taking numerous hostages, many of whom are still being held hostage.

In response, Israel bombed different targets and began a ground incursion into Gaza, causing a serious humanitarian crisis.

In this context, tensions between Israel and Lebanon have increased mainly due to the presence of Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.

Last night, Iran launched a missile attack on Israel, shortly after a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv where at least six people lost their lives.

Since the start of the war, Pope Francis has prayed for peace and made numerous calls to the international community to end the conflict, also warning of the danger of it becoming a “third world war.”

In his public appearances, especially at the General Audience every Wednesday, the Holy Father usually remembers that war “is always a defeat” for humanity and exhorts the faithful to pray for peace.

There have also been several occasions on which he has urged that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza be put to an end, that aid be allowed to arrive in the Strip and that the hostages be released.

During the press conference on the plane returning to Rome after his visit to Luxembourg and Belgium, Pope Francis specified that “the defense must always be proportional to the attack.”

“When there is something disproportionate it shows a dominant tendency that goes beyond morality. A country that does these things with its forces – I mean any country -, that does these things in such a “superlative” way, are immoral actions. Even in war there is a morality to protect. War is immoral, but the rules of war imply a certain morality,” he asserted.

The Holy Father’s initiative was also promoted by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who shared a prayer that Catholics around the world will be able to recite on October 7 when they join the “day of prayer, fasting and penance.” .

The patriarch noted that the objective of the day will be to implore God to stop the “whirlwind of violence and hatred never before seen or experienced” in the Holy Land.