POPE CALLS FOR PRAYER OF THE ROSARY OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 30, 2001 (VIS) - After this morning's Mass which was celebrated to signal the opening of the Synod of Bishops, the Pope appeared at his study window to pray the Angelus and ask everyone to pray the rosary for peace in the world.

After reminding the audience that "October is the month in which Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Holy Rosary, is venerated," he said, "Within the current international context, I invite all - individuals, families, communities - to pray this Marian prayer, possibly every day, for peace, so that the world can be preserved from the wicked scourge of terrorism.

"The terrible tragedy of September 11th," he said,"will be remembered as a dark day in the history of humanity. In the face of this, the Church tries to be faithful to her prophetic charism and remind all men about their duty to build a future of peace for the human family. Certainly, peace is not separated from justice, but it must be nourished by mercy and love.

"We cannot forget that Jews, Christians and Muslims adore God as the only God. The three religions, therefore, have the vocation of unity and peace. May God allow the Church's faithful to be agents of peace, in the front line of the search for justice, and the prohibition of violence. May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for all humanity, so that hate and death never have the last word!"

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