Pope Francis: a prayer for peace throughout the world
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| Pope Francis celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016.- AP |
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis led a prayer service in
St Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, for the intention of peace in the
world – and especially for peace in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
Organized by “Solidarity with South Sudan” in association
with the Justice and Peace office of religious organizations worldwide, the
event in St. Peter’s was part of a worldwide initiative inviting Christians
everywhere to join in prayer for peace.
The world’s youngest nation, South Sudan is currently
embroiled in a civil war that began in 2013, which has claimed some 300
thousand lives and driven 3.5 million people from their homes, disrupting life
at all levels throughout the country and giving rise to one of the world’s
worst humanitarian crises.
The Democratic Republic of Congo – a vast country in central
Africa with enormous natural resource reserves – has been plagued by violence
and endemic corruption for decades. It is currently experiencing major tension
over postponed presidential elections, in addition to several ongoing conflicts
in various provinces – including the diamond-rich Kasai province – arising from
complex combinations of political, economic, ethnic, and religious matrices.
In both countries – South Sudan and the DRC – child soldiers
have been conscripted and used in battle, and rape has been used as a weapon of
war, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In remarks following the readings on Thursday evening,
Pope Francis said, “May the risen Lord break down the walls of hostility that
today divide brothers and sisters, especially in South Sudan and the Democratic
Republic of Congo.”
The Holy Father went on to say, “May he comfort those women
who are the victims of violence in war zones and throughout the world. May he
protect children who suffer from conflicts in which they have no part, but
which rob them of their childhood and at times of life itself.”
“May the Lord help all the little ones and the poor of our
world,” Pope Francis said, “to continue to believe and trust that the kingdom
of God is at hand, in our midst, and is ‘justice, peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit’ (Rom 14:17). May he sustain all those who day by day
strive to combat evil with good, and with words and deeds of fraternity,
respect, encounter and solidarity.”
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