The Bishops’ Conference of Portugal (CEP) called on families, parishes and religious communities to observe a “day of fasting and prayer for peace and reconciliation” on Tuesday, responding to an invitation from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
In a statement, the CEP, “in accordance with the constant calls of Pope Francis, (…) faced with dramatic situations of war, violence and death in various parts of the world, namely in Ukraine, and more recently in the Holy Land, urges every effort to be made leading to true peace.”
In this context, and in response to the “warm invitation” of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on behalf of the bishops of the Holy Land, the body headed by the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, José Ornelas, “proposes that all families, parishes and religious communities observe a day of fasting and prayers for peace and reconciliation on Tuesday, October 17th.”
Since October 7, the Islamist group Hamas’ attack on Israel and the Israeli army’s retaliatory bombing of Gaza have killed thousands and displaced a million people on both sides.