Pope Francis proclaims October 27 the Day of Penance and Prayer for Peace and calls to remember Ukraine
In his customary conclusion to Wednesday’s meeting with pilgrims, Pope Francis, after calling for remembrance of the suffering in Ukraine, turned his attention to the Holy Land and all regions wounded by war. He declared the last Friday of October as a Day of Prayer and Fasting for the entire world, extending an invitation to people of different faiths and religions to unite in this endeavor.
“Brothers and sisters, please continue to pray for peace and remember the ongoing suffering in Ukraine; though it may not be in the headlines, the tragedy persists,” Pope Francis concluded his general audience on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, with these words before leading the Lord’s Prayer and delivering the blessing. For the past 600 days, since the Angelus prayer on February 27, 2022, the Holy Father has consistently drawn attention to Ukraine’s tragedy as a victim of armed aggression, ensuring it doesn’t fade into the background amidst other events.
Other equally tragic events weigh heavily on the Pope’s heart. Before addressing the Italian-speaking pilgrims, he directed his thoughts towards Palestine and Israel, urging an end to conflicts worldwide and proclaiming a special Day of Prayer and Fasting. “Today, dear brothers and sisters, my thoughts go to Palestine and Israel. The death toll is rising, and the situation in Gaza is dire. Every effort must be made to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. The potential escalation of the conflict is deeply concerning, given the numerous military conflicts occurring worldwide.” He further called for a cessation of weapons and for the pleas for peace from ordinary people and children to be heard. He emphasized: “War, my brothers and sisters, does not resolve a problem; it only brings death and destruction, fosters hatred, and multiplies vengeance. War obliterates the future. I implore believers to stand on one side in this conflict — the side of peace. However, not with mere words, but with prayer and wholehearted dedication.”
In this perspective, the Pope said that he has decided to proclaim Friday, October 27, a Day of Fasting, Prayer, and Penance, to which he invites ‘brothers and sisters of the various Christian denominations and those of other religions who hold the matter of world peace at heart.” “That evening at 18:00, we will hold an hour of prayer in St. Peter’s Cathedral in the spirit of repentance, asking for peace for our days, for peace in this world. I ask all local churches to join by preparing similar initiatives engaging the people of God,” the Bishop of Rome called.
The UGCC Department for Informationbased on the materials of Vatican News
