Holy Land: Young Palestinians called to pray for peace in Middle East

This coming Saturday, October 24, all parishes of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem will pray for an hour long for peace in the Middle East. This initiative of Christian Youth in Palestine is an answer to the call sent forth by Pope Francis, at the Angelus with pilgrims in St Peter's Square on Sunday October 18, 2015.

Since the beginning of the month of October, tension has continued rising in the Holy Land, and recent episodes of violence in Jerusalem, Hebron, Nablus or Gaza are darkening yet further the sky of a Middle East already torn up by many conflicts.

During the Angelus, last Sunday, Pope Francis sent forth a resounding call for peace in the Holy Land, exhorting "governments and citizens" to "carry out gestures of peace".

This call was heard by the Palestinian Catholic Youth. Earlier in the week, at the time of the meeting of Young Christian Students, members decided to approach all parishes of the Patriarchate in Israel, Palestine and Jordan to hold a one hour prayer for peace.

This moment of prayer is open to everybody: to Christians for sure, but also to Jews and Muslims. Fr Bashar Fawadleh, chaplain of the movement in Palestine, hopes that youth of each religion will join this initiative "for we pray and implore one God, a God of love, justice and hope".

This moment of prayer will take place on the eve of the great feastday of Our Lady of Palestine, Queen of Peace. It is worth noting that many Palestinians will not be able to take part in the ritual, because of lack of travel permits by Israeli authorities.

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem