Pope Francis has called on all
Roman Catholics, Christians and members of other religions to observe Feb. 23
as a day of prayer, fasting and initiatives for peace.
Francis while addressing tens of
thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly blessing, on Sunday
urged everyone to ‘say no’ to violence and conflict.
According to him, the appeal is
because of the “tragic prolonging” of conflicts around the world.
Feb. 23 is a Friday in the first
full week of the Christian season of Lent, during which fasting from food and
extra acts of charity are encouraged as a sign of penitence.
He said, “everyone, in their own
consciences, before God, should ask ‘what can I do for peace?’”
“Surely, we can pray but not
only: each one of us can say ‘no’ to violence in their own way, because
victories obtained through violence are false victories, while working for
peace benefits all,”
Francis said that prayers and
fasting should be offered in a particular way for the people of the Democratic
Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
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