June 5, 2014
A ray of hope beamed over the world when on May 25, Pope Francis invited the Palestinian and Israeli Presidents to meet at his home in the Vatican for “an intense prayer to God for the gift of peace”. And this encouraged further belief that peace has to be created and invoked.
On hearing the news about this prayer meeting, people from different cultures and religions, that are inspired by the ideal of unity of the Focolare Movement, have intensified their common prayer for peace. They express their prayer in different words, in various actions that promote peace, and every day, at midday, people in every time zone stop to invoke for world peace.
The news, that the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople will be joining Pope Francis and the Presidents Peres and Mahmoud Abbas for the “prayer for peace” on Sunday at the Vatican, has given rise to greater joy. This is a further incentive to move on with haste towards fulfilling Jesus’ words “that they may all be one so that the world may believe”. Today, more than ever, these words spell out His command.
The Focolare Movement replies to the heartfelt request of Pope Francis “do not leave us alone”, and in all the five continents, particularly in places afflicted by suffering, it unites itself in prayer to be held at the Vatican “so that the Lord will give us peace in that blessed Land!”.
Updated on June 6, 2014
SIF – Focolare Information Service
