Det är ett viktigt och steg påven tar genom att inbjuda alla till världsvid samfälld bön lördag den 7 september. Han inbjuder inte bara katoliker, utan alla kristna, människor från andra religioner och alla människor av god vilja att delta på det sätt de kan. Det var under förra söndagens Angelus han lät meddela detta.Påven ber också katolikerna att fasta i samband med bönen, och att man anordnar lokala bönesamlingar i sina församlingar parallellt med att man samlas på Petersplatsen, vilket kommer att ske från kl 19.00 fram till midnatt. Man samlas i en anda av bön och botfärdighet och ber om fredens gåva över Syrien och över varje stor konflikt i världen.

”Mänskligheten behöver se dessa fredssträvande handlingar och lyssna till hoppets och fredens ord”, sade påven. Det blir ett dramatiskt tecken denna lördag: Påve Franciskus på Petersplatsen, och kristtrogna med honom över hela världen i bön och fasta för fred i Syrien och hela världen.

Citat från påvens Angelus-predikan:

”Today, dear brothers and sisters, I wish to make add my voice to the cry which rises up with increasing anguish from every part of the world, from every people, from the heart of each person, from the one great family which is humanity: it is the cry for peace! It is a cry which declares with force: we want a peaceful world, we want to be men and women of peace, and we want in our society, torn apart by divisions and conflict, that peace break out! War never again! Never again war! Peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected…

I appeal strongly for peace, an appeal which arises from the deep within me. How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed! I think of many children who will not see the light of the future! With utmost firmness I condemn the use of chemical weapons: I tell you that those terrible images from recent days are burned into my mind and heart. There is a judgement of God and of history upon our actions which is inescapable! Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence.With all my strength, I ask each party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close themselves in solely on their own interests, but rather to look at each other as brothers and decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and negotiation, and so overcome blind conflict. With similar vigour I exhort the international community to make every effort to promote clear proposals for peace in that country without further delay, a peace based on dialogue and negotiation, for the good of the entire Syrian people…

What can we do to make peace in the world? As Pope John said, it pertains to each individual to establish new relationships in human society under the mastery and guidance of justice and love.

All men and women of good will are bound by the task of pursuing peace. I make a forceful and urgent call to the entire Catholic Church, and also to every Christian of other confessions, as well as to followers of every religion and to those brothers and sisters who do not believe: peace is a good which overcomes every barrier, because it belongs all of humanity!

I repeat forcefully: it is neither a culture of confrontation nor a culture of conflict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue; this is the only way to peace.

May the plea for peace rise up and touch the heart of everyone so that they may lay down their weapons and let themselves be led by the desire for peace.”

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