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March 5 to Be Set Aside Especially for the Middle East
Pope John Paul II called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace,
especially in
the Middle East, to be observed on Ash Wednesday, March 5.
"For months the international community has been living in great
apprehension
because of the danger of a war that might disturb the whole of the
Middle
East region and exacerbate the tensions that, unfortunately, are already
present at the beginning of the millennium," the Pope said today,
explaining
the reasons for his decision.
"It is a duty of believers, regardless of the religion to which they
belong,
to proclaim that we will never be able to be happy if we are against one
another; the future of humanity will never be able to be assured by
terrorism
and the logic of war," the Pope continued.
"We Christians, in particular, are called to be like guardians of peace
in
the places where we live and work," he explained. "We are asked, that
is,
to
be alert, so that consciences will not yield to the temptation to
egoism,
falsehood and violence."
Because of this, the Pontiff invited "all Catholics to dedicate with
special
intensity next March 5, Ash Wednesday, to prayer and fasting for the
cause
of
peace, especially in the Middle East."
"Above all, let us implore God for the conversion of hearts and a
generous
view in just decisions to resolve with adequate and peaceful means the
contests that hamper the pilgrimage of humanity in our time," he said.
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