On behalf of all the Ordinaries of the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, invites the entire Church to a day of fasting and prayer for peace and reconciliation on Tuesday, October 17. Pope Francis has encouraged everyone to join this initiative "to oppose the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism, and war."

Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz has encouraged the members of the Work to support Pope Francis's desire to pray for peace and to participate in the day of prayer, abstinence, and fasting proposed by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Furthermore, priests are invited to add the following intention to the prayers of the faithful: "Merciful and mighty Father, You are ‘not a God of disorder but of peace.' Quench the hatred, violence, and war in the Holy Land so that love, concord, and peace may flourish once more. Let us pray."

Message from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

"Since he is not the God of disorder but of peace." The message begins with this quotation from the New Testament (1 Cor 14:33), and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, continues, "May the Lord indeed give us His peace!"

He adds, "The pain and dismay at what is happening is great. Once again we find ourselves in the midst of a political and military crisis. We have suddenly been catapulted into a sea of unprecedented violence. The hatred, which we have unfortunately already been experiencing for too long, will increase even more, and the ensuing spiral of violence will create more destruction. Everything seems to speak of death."

"Yet, in this time of sorrow and dismay," the Patriarch continues, "we do not want to remain helpless. We cannot let death and its sting (1 Cor 15:55) be the only word we hear.

"That is why we feel the need to pray, to turn our hearts to God the Father. Only in this way we can draw the strength and serenity needed to endure these hard times, by turning to Him, in prayer and intercession, to implore and cry out to God amidst this anguish."

October 17: Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in the Holy Land

"We ask that on Tuesday, October 17, everyone hold a day of fasting, abstinence, and prayer. Let us organize prayer times with Eucharistic adoration and with the recitation of the Rosary to Our Blessed Virgin Mary," he writes. "Although most probably in many parts of our dioceses circumstances will not permit large gatherings, it is possible to organize simple and sober common moments of prayer in parishes, religious communities, and families."

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa concludes the message: "This is the way we all come together despite everything, and unite collectively in prayer, to deliver to God the Father our thirst for peace, justice, and reconciliation."