Home » News » ACN joins the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in calling for a day of prayer, fasting and penance for peace in the Holy Land on October 7

ACN joins the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in calling for a day of prayer, fasting and penance for peace in the Holy Land on October 7

Königstein im Taunus, 30 September 2024

The executive president of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, Regina Lynch, released the following statement:

“As the executive president of ACN, a pontifical foundation that supports the persecuted and suffering Church throughout the world, I am deeply saddened by the unspeakable violence that has shaken the Holy Land for the last year.

Regina Lynch, Executive President of ACN International
Regina Lynch, Executive President of ACN International

“I would like to call upon ACN’s friends and benefactors around the globe to participate in a day of prayer, fasting and penance on Monday, October 7, 2024, which Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has announced to mark the first anniversary of this heartbreaking conflict.

“ACN shares the infinite grief and anguish of all those afflicted by the war, including those who have lost loved ones. We pray that God will comfort them and give them hope, courage and strength to persevere despite the immense challenges they continue to encounter every day.

“October 7 is also the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Blessed Virgin Mary not only shares the pain of those grieving the death of loved ones, as she saw her son give up His life on the Cross, but she also knows the power of the Resurrection which offers hope to all those suffering injustice. May she join her prayers with ours on the anniversary of the Holy Land’s descent into chaos and bring peace through her intercession.

“With the Holy Father, Pope Francis, we pray ‘that the sincere search for peace will extinguish strife, love will overcome hatred, and revenge will be disarmed by forgiveness’.

“Please join us in this campaign of prayers for lasting peace and stability in the Holy Land and other parts of the Middle East engulfed in a spiral of war.

“We ask the ‘God of all comfort’ to hear our prayers and allow His love and compassion to touch the hearts of those involved in the fighting, inspiring them to seek peaceful solutions, so that justice and reconciliation can prevail throughout the Holy Land and beyond.”

 

Don't miss the latest updates!

Nigeria: “Human life is sacred. There can be no lynching in a civilised society”

Northern Nigeria usually appears in the news because of violence,…

Church in Colombia aids victims of devastating earthquake while assessing damages

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck large parts of western and central…

Earthquake in Colombia: Church assessing needs for emergency aid

A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck much of western and…

ACN joins Mexican bishops’ call for religious freedom

The Catholic bishops of Mexico have marked the centenary of…

Indonesia earthquake:  Bishop witnesses “tears of sorrow slowly transform into the dawn of hope”

The Catholic Church is at the forefront of efforts to help victims of the earthquake that struck one of the most densely Christian islands of Indonesia. The Indonesian island of...

“However great evil is, it will never destroy everything”, says Donetsk Bishop

At the age of 46, Maksym Ryabukha, SDB, is a war zone bishop. Half of his exarchate is occupied by the Russian army, making it impossible for him to carry...

Lebanon: 7,465 children and young people find refuge from war in ACN-funded summer camps

In Lebanon today, organising a few days of activities for children and young people has become an obstacle course. Yet, for the local Church, these camps are more necessary than...