Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed Friday, August 22, a worldwide day of prayer and fasting for peace, aligning the spiritual call with the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Pope made the announcement during his General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, urging Catholics and people of goodwill to unite in seeking peace amid escalating conflicts in Ukraine, the Holy Land, and other troubled regions.
“Too many innocent lives are being lost, and too many families are bearing the weight of wars that seem endless. We cannot remain indifferent,” Pope Leo said, stressing that prayer, fasting, and acts of charity are not symbolic rituals but powerful catalysts for transformation.
By linking the observance with the Marian feast day, the pontiff underscored the Church’s tradition of entrusting humanity’s struggles to Mary, Queen of Peace.
“Let us ask Mary to help nations rediscover the path of peace. May she intercede for people torn apart by hatred and violence,” he added.
The call has been welcomed by church leaders in conflict zones. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, said, “Prayer is not a magic formula, but it opens hearts where distrust and hatred have grown. It is a step toward rebuilding trust.”
Similarly, Bishop Vitalij Skomarovskyj in Ukraine described the initiative as a sign of global solidarity, saying, “This call reminds us we are not forgotten. Prayer and fasting have great power; they can change the course of history.”
Reflecting on the Church’s teaching, Pope Leo emphasized that peace is sustained not only by justice but also by forgiveness. Drawing from the legacy of St. John Paul II, he noted: “True peace cannot exist without justice, but neither can it survive without forgiveness. Forgiveness is not surrender; it is the strength that prevents new wounds.”
The Pope’s appeal comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in conflict zones, with millions displaced and communities devastated by violence.
— Hobnob News
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