31st October – People urged to pray in communion with Pope Francis and leaders of the Lutheran World Federation for Syria
Everyday people in Syria become victims of a brutal war. The catastrophe worsens with battles raging in Aleppo, in Hassakeh and elsewhere. Caritas calls on churches, schools, its supporters, governments and people of good faith to join a communal prayer for Syria.
Pope Francis and 10,000 people will pray for Syria during a 31 October ecumenical event in Sweden. They will be at the Commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in the city of Lund. It’s the first time leaders of the Catholic and Lutheran Churches will pray in unity.
Caritas encourages everyone to pray in communion on 31 October. As Christians, we recognise that prayer is of the utmost importance and an invaluable contribution to bringing peace. It guides our actions, it binds us in solidarity to one another and connects us more deeply with the grace that flows from God.
Peace is Possible
Caritas wants as many people as possible to come together in prayer for peace in Syria. The prayer is sharable by posting links or photos of it on Facebook, Twitter or other social media platforms with the hashtag #peacepossible4Syria. Caritas staff in the Middle East wrote the prayer.
People will be able to join the event in Sweden by following the live stream online. Money raised from the Lund event will be used to help Syrians in need through Caritas and its counterpart, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service.
The Caritas Syria: Peace is Possible campaign urges all sides in the conflict to find a peaceful solution, the international community to support the millions of people affected by war and all of us to give Syrians dignity and hope.
The following is a link to the Irish Bishops Conference website with more information:-