Pope Francis invited the faithful to join this Tuesday the 17th in the day of fasting and prayer for peace in the Holy Land. The special call is in the face of the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and which has claimed lives of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
“I invite believers to join the Church in the Holy Land by dedicating today to prayer and fasting for peace,” the Holy Father wrote on the social network X.
“May the hostages be released, may civilians not be victims of the conflict, may humanitarian law be respected, and may no more innocent blood be shed!” exclaimed the Pontiff.
“Prayer is the gentle and holy force to oppose the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism, and war,” the Holy Father noted on last Sunday Angelus.
On Sunday evening, a large number of faithful prayed the Rosary in the atrium of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major to ask God for peace in the Holy Land and throughout the world.
According to CNN en Español, after the attacks by the Islamic group on Saturday, October 7, 1,400 Israelis have died.
As of October 16, it is estimated that more than 2,800 people have died in Gaza, a figure that could increase due to the constant attacks by Israel, which declared a state of war since October 7.