Vatican City, 13 July 2014 (VIS) –
After praying the Angelus, the Pope launched a fresh appeal for
fervent prayer for peace in the Holy Land in the light of the tragic
events of recent days.
“I still recall the meeting of 8 June
with Patriarch Bartholomaios, President Peres and President Abbas,
with whom we invoked the gift of peace and heard the call to break
the cycle of hatred and violence. Some might think that such a
meeting took place in vain. But no, because prayer helps us not to
allow ourselves to be overcome by evil, nor resign ourselves to
violence and hatred taking over dialogue and reconciliation. I urge
the parties concerned and all those who have political responsibility
at local and international levels to offer a prayer and make some
effort to bring an end to all hostilities and to achieve the desired
peace for the good of all. And I invite everyone to unite in prayer.
In silence everyone, let us pray. Now, Lord, help us! Grant us peace,
teach us peace, guide us toward peace. Open our eyes and our hearts
and give us the courage to say: “No more war!” “War destroys
everything”. Give us the courage to take concrete actions to build
peace. Make us willing to listen to the cry of our citizens who ask
us to transform our weapons into instruments of peace, our fears into
trust, and our tensions into forgiveness”.
The Holy Father then went on to comment
that today is “Sea Sunday”, and greeted all seafarers, fishermen
and their families, urging Christian communities, particularly those
living in coastal areas, to be attentive to them. “I also invite
the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea to
continue their commitment to the pastoral care of these brothers and
sisters”, he added, entrusting all, “especially those who are in
difficulty and away from home, to the maternal protection of Mary,
Star of the Sea”.
Finally, he blessed all the spiritual
sons and daughters of St. Camillus de Lellis, as tomorrow marks the
400th anniversary of his death, and invited the Camillan family, in
this jubilee year, “to be a sign of the Lord Jesus who, as the Good
Samaritan, tends to the wounds of the body and the spirit of
suffering humanity, pouring the oil of consolation and the wine of
hope. To those of you gathered here in St Peter's Square, as well as
to health professionals serving in hospitals and nursing homes, it is
my hope that you may continue grow in the charism of charity, fuelled
by daily contact with the sick”.
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