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Monday 7 October 2024 is to be a day of prayer, fasting, and penance for reconciliation and peace in the Holy Land

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has supported the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem calls for Monday 7 October 2024 to be a day of prayer, fasting, and penance for reconciliation and peace in the Holy Land amidst the ongoing violence and hatred.

In a letter, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, said we need to pray "to bring our pain and our desire for peace to God. We need to convert, to do penance and to implore forgiveness".

The Latin Patriarch has also issued a prayer for peace, which can be found below. 

Archbishop John Wilson has consistently called for peace in the Holy Land. In June, the Archbishop said "in the face of war, God demands peace". Archbishop John added:

“Violence must be cast down and reconciliation raised up. Hatred must be sent away and friendship rekindled. Vengeance must be dismantled and hope restored. We cannot make idols of power or weapons.”

The Archbishop has also made clear our “specific mission to support the Church of the Latin Patriarchate is vital”, adding that we all must “pray for a just, peaceful and lasting resolution” while we “do what we can to help alleviate suffering.”

Please join us in using praying for peace in the Holy Land.  

Prayer for Peace
Lord our God,
Father of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and Father of all mankind,
Who in the cross of Your Son
and through the gift of His own life,
at great cost You wished to destroy
the wall of enmity and hostility
that separates peoples and makes us enemies:
Send into our hearts
the gift of the Holy Spirit,
that He may purify us from every feeling
of violence, hatred and revenge,
enlighten us to understand
the irrepressible dignity
of every human person,
and inflame us to the point of consumption
for a peaceful and reconciled world
in truth and justice,
in love and freedom.
Almighty and eternal God,
in Your hands, are the hopes of men
and the rights of every people:
Assist with Your wisdom those who govern us
so that, with Your help,
they will become sensitive to the sufferings of the poor
and of those who suffer the consequences
of violence and war;
may they promote the common good and lasting peace
in the region
and throughout the earth.
Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope,
obtain the gift of peace
for the Holy Land that gave birth to you
and for the whole world.
Amen.