Pope Announces World Prayer Day For Syria

France 24 ^ | September 1,2013 | France 24

[Biggirl]

AFP - Pope Francis has called for the world to unite in a day of fasting and prayer for Syria on Saturday and said "God and history" would judge anyone using chemical weapons.

"May the cry for peace enter the hearts of everyone so that they may all lay down their weapons," the pope told thousands of pilgrims at the Vatican on Sunday.

[dfwgator]

Good luck with all that.

[A CA Guy]

Well now the President and John Kerry has all they need to bomb Syria. The Pope just verified it was chemical weapons.

[353FMG]

No he did not — he made a general statement.

All he said was: “God and history” would judge anyone using chemical weapons.”

It is like saying: “God and history will judge anyone promoting homosexuality and same-sex “marriage”.

[Mrs. Don-o]

So, when is this World Day of Prayer? Or did it already happen - yesterday?

[Iscool]

I will pray that your pope will pray for Israel but we know that ain’t gonna happen...

[A CA Guy]

Hey, as far as Supreme leader Obama and Kerry are concerned, what the Pope said was enough.

[onedoug]

I don’t think I could pray for islamists, but for their victims, predominantly Christians.

[livius]

Syria is a complex case, and probably the best thing we can do is pray for it. Things weren’t good in hat part of the ME before, but Bambi has really stirred up, muddied, confused and inflamed it - all at once.

[Biggirl]

.....Translation, Obama hit a big hornet’s nest that should have been left alone.

[Biggirl]

Pray for the protection of the Christians of the Middle East.

[Biggirl]

He most likely does, just does not make a big deal of it.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Pope Francis considering Israel visit next year

[Tax-chick]

The article is dated today, Sept. 1, so it’s reasonable to assume the Holy Father is talking about next Saturday, Sept. 7.

Hopefully there will be a detailed notice from a Vatican source, so we know for sure.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh here it is, it's Sept, 7 - next Saturday.

To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative.

On 7 September, in Saint Peter’s Square, here, from 19:00 until 24:00, we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world. Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace! I ask all the local churches, in addition to fasting, that they gather to pray for this intention.

Let us ask Mary to help us to respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She is our mother: may she help us to find peace; all of us are her children! Help us, Mary, to overcome this most difficult moment and to dedicate ourselves each day to building in every situation an authentic culture of encounter and peace. Mat, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

Text from page http://en.radiovaticana.va/articolo.asp?c=724673 of the Vatican Radio website

[MinuteGal]

A decade or two ago, the British royal family suffered a considerable loss of prestige and dignity when it decided to wrap itself in a cloak of "common-ness" to try to identify with the "the average bloke on the street". They started going to great extremes to open their family life, even their personal living quarters and the like to the public and to a cynical media. It didn't work.

Solemnity and mystique in leaders may mean nothing to most Americans, but to many folks of other nationalities and religions these qualities are important to their everyday emotional perceptions.

They may or may not appreciate a "folksy" king, queen or pope. However, it didn't work out that well for the Windsors.....so they tightened ship after a short while of trying unsuccessfully to act like the family next door.

This Pope appears to have adopted a "humble", "social justice" persona. I hope he's not inclined to overdo it.....as it will whittle away at the wonderful majesty and dignity of the office he holds.

Leni

[Ann Archy]

I don’t mean to be dense or uncaring here, but what is the difference in outrage if 1,500 people are shot or bombed??

[Biggirl]

Thank-you for the reminder!

[Salvation]

Amen!

[Salvation]

From the U. S. Bishops:

Prayer for Peace in Syria

 

God of Compassion,
Hear the cries of the people of Syria,
Bring healing to those suffering from the violence,
Bring comfort to those mourning the dead,
Strengthen Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees,
Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms,
And protect those committed to peace.

God of Hope,
Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies,
Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria,
And give us hope for a future of peace built on justice for all.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace and Light of the World,
Amen.

Petition: For the people of Syria, that God may strengthen the resolve of leaders to end the fighting and choose a future of peace.