Global Prayer for Peace Across Traditions March 26 9:00 CDT

Millions of people continued to be displaced because of war in the Middle East.  There is an increasing growing tension and hate due to the war causing more disasters and suffering among the people.  Pope Leo XIV has been pleading for peace in the Middle East.  He appeals to the national leaders for an end of US-Iran war.  He calls on leaders to have the ceasefire and open the door for political and diplomatic dialogue.  

USCCB supports the pontiff in praying for peace and calling on the leaders to end the war. The USCCB Bishops are even more vocal on their disagreement with war.  The president Archbishop Paul Coakley highlighting the importance that all nations', and organizations' commitment to peace will have a concrete effort to prevent escalating the war that is already on high alert. Archbishop Mc Elroy was upfront with his opposition on war and the rhetoric of the country's president on preventive war.  The Vatican Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, reminded that using God to justify war is the gravest sin.  

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is asking the people of faith and goodwill in all churches, congregations, and communities across the globe of all traditions and in various contexts to pray for peace in shared space, primarily offering the intentions for Middle East.  The council published a joint statement in their request for prayer with their deep concern for humanitarian and social impact of the war in Middle East.  It will be held online on March 26 15:00 CET or March 26 9:00 AM CT.   People n the Middle East and those with internal conflict in these surrounding areas are longing for justice, peace, and reconciliation.  

Register to get the link to the online prayer for peace on March 26 9AM CT from the World Council of Churches here.

To read the joint statement of the World Council of Churches on this request praying for the deep concern for humanitarian and social impact in Middle East: here

In addition to the invitation above, a prayer for peace is posted from Pope Leo with the awareness that the Middle East is facing justice and peace crisis: here which is also below in text.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amén.

 

Lord of Life,

you shaped every human being in your image and likeness.

We believe you created us for communion, not for war,

for fraternity, not for destruction.

 

You who greeted your disciples saying, “Peace be with you,”

grant us the gift of your peace

and the strength to make it a reality in history.

Today we lift up our prayer for peace in the world,

asking that nations renounce weapons

and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy.

 

Disarm our hearts of hatred, resentment, and indifference,

so we may become instruments of reconciliation.

Help us understand that true security

does not come from control fueled by fear,

but from trust, justice, and solidarity among peoples.

 

Lord, enlighten the leaders of the nations,

so they may have the courage to abandon projects of death,

halt the arms race,

and place the lives of the most vulnerable at the center.

May the nuclear threat never again dictate the future of humanity.

 

Holy Spirit,

make us faithful and creative builders of daily peace:

in our hearts, our families,

our communities, and our cities.

May every kind word, every gesture of reconciliation,

and every choice for dialogue be seeds of a new world.

 

Amen.