To offer a prayerful response to the ongoing devastation caused by war and violence, Pope Francis has called for Monday, 7 October to be a day of prayer, penance, and fasting for peace. This was echoed by the President of the Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, has also asked that this day be an occasion to pray for peace in the Holy Land.

On Sunday, Pope Francis renewed his prayerful sympathy for the people in Israel who suffered the horrors of the Hamas terror attack a year ago and called for the immediate release of hostages. He then turned his attention to the great suffering of the people of Gaza and the other territories. “These are mostly innocent civilians, all people who must receive all the humanitarian aid they need,” he said.

Finally, the Pope called for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ on all fronts, including Lebanon, inviting the faithful in join him in prayer. “All nations,” he said, “have the right to exist in peace and security, and their territories must not be attacked or invaded; sovereignty must be respected and guaranteed by dialogue and peace, not hatred and war.”

Prayer, penance and fasting

We invite the faithful in England and Wales to join the Pope, the Patriarch and the Cardinal in answering this call to prayer, penance and fasting on Monday, 7 October. Let us walk together in prayer, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we strive for peace, healing and reconciliation in our world.

How can we engage in this day? As 7 October is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, it may be that a public recitation of the Rosary would be appropriate, or perhaps a time of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Latin Patriarchate has also offered a poignant prayer for peace.