“Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Catholic official in the Holy Land, has announced that he and other Christian leaders in Jerusalem have called for an October 17 day of prayer and fasting to end the war between Hamas and Israel.”
“The massive attack that Hamas carried out against the State of Israel on October 7 gripped the 365 members of the Synod assembly. That included its president – Pope Francis – who launched two appeals for peace in the space of a few days from St Peter's Square. ”
“"Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their way to peace, and spread Easter light on the Russian people," Francis said, addressing a prayer to God. He implored the Almighty's help for "the wounded and those who have lost loved ones because of the war", as well as for the prisoners. ”
“As a Jesuit, the former cardinal-archbishop of Buenos Aires always follows the same method before making a decision: listen, pray and then decide. The moments of silence, even in the midst of meetings with those closest to him, testify to this.”
“For all that, this spiritual way of deciding things confounds many in the Vatican. And it really confuses those who have an overly political reading of the man in white's decisions, reducing them to a balancing act between antagonistic forces, calculations and intrigues.”
“Nothing is as influential as the behaviour of the neighbours – and in this case, you and I are the neighbours! Our efforts at individual betterness enrich the whole world.”
“Like their diplomatic colleagues from the United States, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the European Union, the two ambassadors responded to the "prayer for peace" organized in a worrying context by the Community of Sant'Egidio, and desired by Pope Francis.”
“such expressions are common, both in the Old Testament (cf. Amos 5:4, with the note in the Jerusalem Bible) and the New (cf. Matt 6:33, again with the note in the Jerusalem Bible). To seek God, it is said, is to appeal to him, to interrogate him”
“Pope Francis, following the recitation of the Angelus prayer on the First Sunday of Advent, prayed for the thousands of migrants who risk their lives every day as they embark upon journeys in search of a better life. ”
“But the heavily spiritual emphasis of the pope's initiative confused some of the foreign ambassadors, invited to attend the closing prayer in St. Peter's at the end of the day. "Lord, help me!" Francis exclaimed, noting that this is a plea that has become the desperate cry of an entire people.”
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Lenten Calendar: 40 Days of Reflection and Renewal - PAX CHRISTI International
"Violence must stop on both sides," says Jerusalem cardinal
When wars burst into the Synod hall
Russia hunts down dissenting voices in the Orthodox Church
In Easter message, pope prays for "beloved Ukrainian people" and for the "Russian people"
"Sometimes he says nothing for ten minutes"
"That’s what I feel": the way Francis decides
Efforts at individual betterness enrich the whole world
When Ukraine and Russia pray together for peace
Spiritual Discernment - LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
At start of Advent, pope prays for migrants
In the silence of St. Peter's Basilica
