Pope
Francis Wednesday during his weekly General Audience called on
Catholics together with other Christians to continue to pray for peace
in the most troubled parts of the world.
He made the appeal ahead of the
"International Day of Peace," celebrated on September 21st. Below is a Vatican Radio English translation of the Pope’s words.
Each
year, on September 21, the United Nations celebrates the "International
Day of Peace," and the World Council of Churches is calling on its
members to pray on that day for peace. I invite Catholics from around
the world to join with other Christians to continue to ask God for the
gift of peace in the most troubled parts of our planet. May peace, the
gift of Jesus, always live in our hearts and support the intentions and
actions of the leaders of nations and all people of good will. Let us
commit ourselves to encouraging all efforts for a diplomatic and
political solution of all the focus points of war that still are a cause
for concern. My thoughts go especially to the dear people of Syria,
whose human tragedy can only be resolved through dialogue and
negotiation, with respect for justice and the dignity of every person,
especially the weakest and most defenseless.