#peacepossible4Syria - worldwide prayers for peace

Prayers outside the Foreign Office, London image: ICN

From Dublin to Damascus, London to Helsinki, in Mexico and Spain to Sri Lanka - prayer vigils for peace in Syria were held in more than 160 countries around the world. This prayer initiative was organised to coincide with the Holy Father's prayers with members of the Lutheran Church in Lund, Sweden.

Commenting on the prayer initiative, Bishop William Crean, Bishop of Cloyne and Chairman of Trócaire said: "Innocent men, women and children are paying the ultimate price in the continuing conflict raging in Syria, especially in Aleppo, where they are caught in the crossfire. I join with Pope Francis in urging governments to find a political solution to the war in Syria."

In Belfast, a large display of children's shoes brought the message home poignantly. Each pair represented 1,000 children killed in Syria.

In London, Pax Christi, CAFOD and the Council of Lutheran Churches in the UK held simultaneous prayer vigils for peace in Syria outside the Foreign Office in Whitehall and the Russian Embassy in Kensington.

They said: "We pray for the thousands who have been killed. For those trapped inside besieged towns and cities and the millions who have been forced to flee their homes.

"We call on the UK government to condemn all attacks on civilian life and infrastructure, and to condemn the use of siege tactics by all parties and demand immediate and unhindered access to humanitarian aid.

"We call on the Russian government to suspend their airstrikes and use their position as a trusted partner to bring the Syrian government to the negotiating table.

"We call on all partners involved in the conflict to uphold international and humanitarian law and for an end to all aerial attacks in Syria."

Watch the Pope's message here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgmeOioRB1g