VATICAN (SE): :During the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis made a heartfelt appeal for peace in Ukraine, saying that the threat of war had caused “great pain in my heart,” Vatican News reported.
The pope said, “Despite the diplomatic efforts of the last few weeks, increasingly alarming scenarios are opening up,” with many people all over the world feeling anguish and pain.
“Once again the peace of all is threatened by partisan interests,” he stressed.
Pope Francis appealed to those “with political responsibility to examine their consciences seriously before God, who is the God of peace and not of war, who is the Father of all, not just of some, who wants us to be brothers and not enemies.””
Prayer and fasting for peace
Pope Francis invited everyone to make 2 March, Ash Wednesday, a Day of Fasting for Peace, Vatican News reported.
“I encourage believers in a special way to dedicate themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war,” the pope said.
