More than 3 thousand cities will mark the
fifth day of intercession for peace in the Holy Land, to be held January
27, 2013.
An extra 500 communities have joined since 2012.
Worldwide
priests, religious and laity ensure a chain of 24 hours of prayer.
Since
2008, the Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of the month of January
and this year coincides with the "International Holocaust Remembrance
Day."
It is celebrated on the day of the liberation of the extermination
camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 27 January 1945.
In his talk on
January 1, World Day of Peace, Msgr. Fuad Twal, Latin Patriarch of
Jerusalem, said: "Peace between peoples can be born and grow only if it
is first in every person, every family, every religious community, in
all people."
"I think - said the prelate - that all the means to achieve
peace must pass through justice and dialogue, and never through
violence. The path is full of pitfalls, but hope guides us and the song
of the angels assures us ".
The main promoters of the Day of
Prayer for the Holy Land are: the National Association of Italian
Papaboys, the Apostolate of the "Youth for Life", the chapels of
perpetual adoration throughout Italy and the world, groups of
Eucharistic Adoration , the Association for the promotion of the
extraordinary prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and
Peace.