Pope invites prayers for peace in Iraq and Middle East

John Paul II ended today's general audience by exhorting the faithful to pray for peace in the world, "especially in Iraq and the Middle East", and invoking the "support of the international community" so that those populations can "set out decisively on the road to reconciliation, dialogue and co-operation". The Pope then greeted the representatives of the Association Rondine-Cittadella della pace, who were accompanied by several bishops from Tuscany. Yesterday, the association presented a peace plan for Iraq, proposed by the friars of Camaldoli and La Verna. During the general audience, the Holy Father continued his cycle of teaching on the Liturgy of Vespers, commenting Psalm 29: "Thanksgiving for the Liberation from Death' Source: VIS