Panaji: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), of which Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao is the head, called for a week of prayer and fasting for peace in West Asia. He called on people to offer a holy rosary exclusively for peace each day from March 8 to March 14.“The suffering caused by war and instability deeply wounds the human family. We are especially mindful that many of our sisters and brothers from India are living and working in various countries of West Asia. Many of them support their families from afar and contribute generously both to the life of the church and to our nation,” Cardinal Ferrao stated in the communication to all Latin Catholic churches in India.He called upon people to observe Sunday, March 8 as a day of prayer for peace, and called for special intentions to be made during mass for the cessation of hostilities, the protection of innocent lives, and wisdom and restraint among world leaders.He called on people to implore the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, for reconciliation, dialogue, and a just resolution to the present tensions.“I would also encourage everyone to observe a day of fasting and prayer on Friday, March 13, offering their sacrifice for world peace and for the safety of all those affected by violence and conflict. May our collective prayer, penance, and solidarity become a humble yet fervent plea before Almighty God, that hearts may be converted, hostilities may cease, and peace may prevail,” he stated in the addressWest Asia is facing a sharp escalation after a series of coordinated attacks by the United States of Americs and Israel against Iran that triggered retaliatory air strikes and wideningviolence across the Gulf region, spreading panic.
