The Pope, during his general audience on Wednesday, 18 October, following the massacre at the destroyed hospital in Gaza with hundreds of casualties, calls on believing men and women from around the world and of all religions to gather for a day of fasting, penance and prayer for peace on Friday, 27 October 2023.
"Lay down weapons and heed the cries for peace from the poor, the people, and the innocent children. War solves no problems, it only sows death and destruction, increases hatred, multiplies revenge. War erases the future, it erases the future."
May our prayer be addressed to the Lord for all the victims of war, especially children, and support the efforts of many consecrated men and women who have always worked to promote peace in the Middle East and in many countries around the world. Let us raise our prayer to the God of peace that He may strengthen the work of peacemakers and enable us to build a world in which all men and women can live as brothers and sisters.