Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Embrace peace, Pope tells massive prayer vigil

Embrace peace, Pope tells massive prayer vigil

Last updated on: September 7, 2013 at 9:55 pm by CNA Daily News

Embrace peace, Pope tells massive prayer vigil 2013-09-07T21:55:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Sep 7, 2013 / 03:55 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Addressing myriad people in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis denounced war as a “defeat for humanity” and called on world leaders and individual Christians alike to rebuild a “shattered” harmony.

“Let us pray for reconciliation and peace,” the Pope exhorted the crowds. “Let us work for reconciliation and peace, and let us all become, in every place, men and women of reconciliation and peace!”

Pope Francis and an estimated one hundred thousand people knelt in prayer together in St. Peter’s Square Saturday evening, seeking peace throughout the globe and especially in Syria. The Vatican prayer vigil included hymns, scripture readings, and silent reflection as incense drifted into the night sky.

The U.S. has threatened military strikes against the Syrian government, which the U.S. blames for the deaths of over 1,400 people, including hundreds of children, in an Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack.

The conflict between the Syrian government and rebel forces has claimed over 100,000 lives since it began in March 2011. Many fear U.S. intervention would increase the violence and spark a wider conflict.

Pope Francis vigorously emphasized the need to seek peace.

“War always marks the failure of peace. It is always a defeat for humanity,” he said, echoing Pope John Paul II’s words before the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

“Look upon your brother’s sorrow and do not add to it. Stay your hand! Rebuild the harmony that has been shattered!”

The Pope said that those who pray for peace must consider their own responsibility for conflict in a fallen world.

“Even today, we let ourselves be guided by idols, by selfishness, by our own interests, and this attitude persists,” he lamented. “We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves.”

Violence, he said, repeats the sin of the first murderer, Cain.

“We bring about the rebirth of Cain in every act of violence and every war. All of us,” Pope Francis declared. “Even today we continue this history of conflict between brothers. Even today we raise our hand against our brother.”

He considered whether it was possible for humanity to change direction.

“Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace?” he asked.

“Yes, it is possible for everyone!” he declared. He called on every person, including those who govern nations, to say “yes” to peace.

The Pope placed the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ at the center of his homily.

“My Christian faith urges me to look to the Cross. How I wish that all men and women of good will would look to the Cross if only for a moment!”

“In the silence of the Cross, the uproar of weapons ceases and the language of reconciliation, forgiveness, dialogue and peace is spoken,” he explained.

The Pope reflected on the goodness of creation as taught in Genesis, where humanity is “one family, in which relationships are marked by a true fraternity.”

In the beginning, mankind’s relationship with God “mirrors every human relationship and brings harmony to the whole of creation,” explained Pope Francis.

Although the world is now marked by sin, this original goodness should inspire us, the Pope urged.

“This evening, in reflection, fasting and prayer, each of us deep down should ask ourselves: Is this really the world that I desire?”

Each person must realize that “to be human means to care for one another,” he continued, calling this a way to peace.

“Dear brothers and sisters: forgiveness, dialogue, reconciliation. These are the words of peace in beloved Syria, in the Middle East, in all the world,” the Pope said.

The Pope’s vigil remarks followed a recitation of the rosary with meditations from the writing of St. Therese of Lisieux.

At the start of the vigil, an image of Mary known as “Salus Populi Romani,” the “Protectress of the Roman People,” was placed near the altar to serve as an inspiration for prayer.

After his homily, Pope Francis joined tens of thousands of people in silent adoration before the Eucharist. He noticeably clutched his own pectoral cross.

After the Liturgy of the Hours prayers, the evening concluded with Benediction.

Thousands of other prayer vigils are being held around the world in response to the Pope’s call to prayer.

Greg Burke, senior communications adviser to the Holy See’s Secretariat of State, said Pope Francis has engaged in a “major peace initiative” in response to the Syria crisis.

“Pope Francis wants to keep this issue alive to make sure everything possible could be done to put an end to the violence, and not to increase it,” Burke said.

Vatican

Previous Post

September 7, 2013

Diverse Singapore parish blooming during Year of Faith

Next Post

September 7, 2013 Tourists and pilgrims pray for peace at Vatican vigil

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Hebrews say is living and active?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Prayer Faith The church The word of God