In his homily Opus Dei’s prelate insisted that all Christians are bound to be, as Blessed Josemaria liked to say, "sowers of peace and joy, of the peace and joy brought to us by Jesus." "This need was graphically brought home to us, in past weeks, by the tragic deeds of terrorism that have shaken the world and which, unfortunately and in different ways, also repeat themselves where they’re no longer news.

"Priests, as mediators between God and humanity," continued the prelate, "are especially called to disseminate supernatural peace and joy the world over. Above all you’ll do so in the sacrament of Penance, where Christ, via the priest, reaches down to each soul to cure it and restore it to peace."

Bishop Echevarria invited those present to pray for peace, one of the intentions that the Pope harbors in the deepest recesses of his heart. "I remind you that the Holy Father has recently invited Catholics to pray each day the rosary, during October, for peace in the world."