Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land - 7/5/01 info: custodia@netvision.net.il |
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Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land - 7/5/01 info: custodia@netvision.net.il |
Pope in Syria
Prayer for Peace at Quneitra: 07.05.2001
ENGLISH
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called
sons of God"
(Mt 5:9). From this place, so disfigured by war, I wish to
raise my heart
and voice in prayer for peace in the Holy Land and in the world. Genuine peace
is a gift from God. Our openness to that gift requires a conversion
of heart and
a conscience obedient to his Law.
God of infinite mercy and goodness,
with grateful hearts we pray to you
today
in this land where Saint Paul once walked.
To the nations he
proclaimed the truth that God was in Christ
reconciling the world to himself
(cf. 2 Cor 5:19).
May your voice resound in the hearts of all men and
women,
as you call them to follow the path of reconciliation and
peace,
and
to be merciful as you are merciful.
Lord, you speak words of peace to your people
and to all who turn to you
in their hearts (cf. Ps 85:9).
We pray to you for the peoples of the
Middle East.
Help them to break down the walls of hostility and
division
and
to build together a world of justice and solidarity.
Lord, you create new heavens and a new earth (cf. Is
65:17).
To you
we entrust the young people of these lands.
In their hearts they aspire to a
brighter future;
strengthen their resolve to be men and women of
peace,
and
heralds of new hope to their peoples.
Father, you make justice spring forth from the earth (cf.
Is 45:8).
We
pray for the civil leaders of this region
that they may strive to satisfy
their peoples’ rightful aspirations,
and educate the young in
the ways of
justice and peace.
Inspire them to work generously for the common
good,
to
respect the inalienable dignity of every person
and the fundamental rights
which have their origin
in the image and likeness of the
Creator
impressed
upon each and every human being.
In a special way we pray for the leaders of this noble land of
Syria.
Grant
them wisdom, farsightedness and perseverance;
may they never yield to
discouragement in their challenging task
of building the lasting peace for
which their people yearn.
Heavenly Father,
in this place which saw the conversion of the Apostle
Paul,
we pray for all who believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Guide
their steps in truth and love.
May they be one as you are one, with the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
May they bear witness to the peace which surpasses all
understanding (cf. Phil 4:7)
and to the light which triumphs over the
darkness of hostility, sin and death.
Lord of heaven and earth, Creator
of the one human family,
we pray for the followers of all religions.
May
they seek your will in prayer and purity of heart;
may they adore you and
worship your holy name.
Lead them to find in you the strength to overcome
fear and distrust,
to grow in friendship and to live together in
harmony.
Merciful Father,
may all believers find the courage to forgive
one another,
so
that the wounds of the past may be healed,
and not be a pretext for further
suffering in the present.
May this happen above all in the Holy
Land,
this
land which you have blessed with so many signs of your Providence,
and where
you have revealed yourself as the God of Love.
To the Mother of Jesus, the ever blessed Virgin Mary,
we entrust the men
and women living in the land where Jesus once lived.
Following her example,
may they listen to the word of God,
and have respect and compassion for
others,
especially those who differ from them.
May they be inspired to
oneness of heart and mind,
in working for a world that will be a true home
for all its peoples!
Salam! Salam! Salam!
Amen!
In concluding I wish to extend a word of appreciation to the International
Force stationed here. Your presence is a sign of the international
community’s
determination to be of assistance in bringing closer the day of harmony between
the peoples, the cultures and religions of the area. May Almighty God protect
you and sustain your efforts!
(Original text: English)
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