Christians around the world are praying today for peace in Syria and the wellbeing of millions of refugees who have left their homes because of the fighting, the Christian Today reports.
Pope Francis appealed to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to join him in a day of prayer and fasting for the country.
“From the bottom of my heart, I would like to express my closeness in prayer and solidarity with all the victims of this conflict, with all those who suffer, especially children, and I invite you to keep alive the hope of peace,” he said.
“I appeal to the international community to be more sensitive to this tragic situation and make every effort to help the beloved Syrian nation find a solution to a war that sows destruction and death.”
The Pope will be offering his prayers during a mass vigil at St Peter’s Square today.
In a letter to Pope Francis, the Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badreddin Hassou, spiritual leader of Sunni Islam, welcomed the appeal and said he would be joining in praying and fasting for peace in his country.
He thanked the Pope “for this appeal of great humanity, based on faith, to fast and pray together God Almighty in order to bring peace on earth and protect us from the power of evil and oppression”.
