Itinakda ni Pope Francis ang Oktubre 27, 2023, bilang araw ng penitensya, pag-aayuno, at panalangin para sa kapayapaan sa mundo.
“I have decided to declare Friday, 27 October, a day of fasting, penance and prayer for #peace,” ani Pope Francis sa isang X post nitong Miyerkules, Oktubre 18.
“I invite the various Christian confessions, members of other religious, and all who hold the cause of peace in the world at heart to participate,” dagdag pa niya.
Gaganapin umano ang panalangin para sa kapayapaan sa St. Peter’s Square dakong 6:00 ng gabi.
Sa isang hiwalay na post ay naglabas din ng pahayag ang pope hinggil sa nagpapatuloy na giyera sa pagitan ng Israel at Palestinian militant group na Hamas sa Gaza, kung saan libo-libo na ang nasawi, kasama ang apat na Pilipino.
“The situation in #Gaza is desperate. Please let everything possible be done to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. The possible widening of the conflict is disturbing. Let the weapons be silenced; let the cry for peace be heard from the poor, from the people, from the children,” ani Pope Francis.
Bukod naman sa Gaza, mayroon ding nagpapatuloy na sigalot sa Ukraine, Syria, Myanmar Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan at Sudan.
“War does not resolve any problem. It only sows death and destruction, increases hate, multiplies vengeance. War erases the future. I exhort believers to take only one side in this conflict: the side of peace – not in word, but in prayer,” panawagan ni Pope Francis.