Join the Pope today in peace prayers for SyriaThe Phantom Intercessor - 6 Sep 2013

Here are the words of Pope Francis, spoken on the 1st September as he called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria on the 7th September - we invite you to read his powerful words and join the call to prayer. 

I appeal strongly for peace, an appeal which arises from deep within me.
How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed!

Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence.

I make a forceful and urgent call to the entire Catholic Church, and also to every Christian of other confessions, as well as to followers of every religion and to those brothers and sisters who do not believe: peace is a good which overcomes every barrier, because it belongs to all of humanity!
I repeat forcefully: it is neither a culture of confrontation nor a culture of conflict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue; this is the only way to peace.

To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world.

On 7 September, in Saint Peter’s Square, here, from 19:00 until 24:00, we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world.

Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace! I ask all the local churches, in addition to fasting, that they gather to pray for this intention.

(Pope Francis, 1 September 2013)