Pope Leo has called on Catholics and other religious believers to dedicate Friday, 22nd August, to a day of fasting and prayer for peace.
This plea comes in light of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and other parts of the world affected by war.
During his weekly address at the Vatican on Wednesday, the Pope said, “As our Earth continues to be wounded by wars in the Holy Land, in Ukraine, and in many other regions … I invite all the faithful to live the day of August 22 in fasting and prayer.”
He urged the faithful to pray for God’s intervention, asking that peace and justice be restored, and that those suffering from the violence of war find comfort and relief.
Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope, was elected on May 8 by the Catholic cardinals to succeed the late Pope Francis.
Since taking office, he has repeatedly called for an end to the war in Ukraine, and in May, his first foreign diplomatic outreach was a phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The two leaders also met in person in July.
Catholics traditionally fast before major religious observances as a means of drawing closer to God through prayer.
Pope Francis had also called for a day of fasting and prayer last October, marking one year since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
