Patriarch of Jerusalem calls for prayer with Pope

His Holiness Pope Francis invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to pray with him in the Vatican on June 8, 2014, in order to advance peace in the Middle East. The two presidents will be joined by delegations including religious leaders from Israel and Palestine. The Pope has also invited Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to be there.

His Holiness requested the faithful not to leave him alone, but to participate in prayers for this intention. Prayer alone can realize what political mediators failed to do.

His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal, who will be in Rome for this occasion, calls on all of us to join His Holiness in prayer, together with all our parishioners during Mass on Sunday. As this special event falls on Pentecost Sunday, we implore the Holy Spirit to inspire those with good intentions to work together for the sake of a just and long-lasting peace.