By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Pope Leo XIV has declared Friday, August 22, a worldwide day of prayer and fasting for peace, as violence continues to escalate in Ukraine, the Holy Land, and other regions.
The announcement, made during his General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, coincides with the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Pope urged Catholics worldwide to join in prayer, fasting, and acts of charity, describing these as “catalysts for change.”
“We cannot remain indifferent,” he said, inviting the faithful to seek Mary’s intercession as Queen of Peace. “Let us ask Mary to help nations rediscover the path of peace.”
Church leaders in conflict zones welcomed the initiative.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa of Jerusalem said prayer “opens hearts where distrust and hatred have grown,” while Bishop Vitalij Skomarovskyj of Ukraine described the Pope’s appeal as a gesture of solidarity.
Pope Leo reminded the faithful that peace requires both justice and forgiveness, echoing the teaching of St. John Paul II.
“Forgiveness is not surrender; it is the strength that prevents new wounds,” he said.
