In honour of the anniversary of the 2014 prayer meeting for peace, a minute of prayer for peace will take place worldwide on Thursday, 08th June 2017 at 1.00pm.
June 8th, 2017 marks the third anniversary of the historic meeting that took place in the Vatican Gardens between Pope Francis and the Israeli and Palestinian presidents. This year, we are once again called to join in the “One Minute for Peace” initiative, where the world comes together to pray for peace according to people’s own religious traditions and beliefs. Wherever we are and whatever we’re doing, we’re invited to stop for just one minute, and join with Pope Francis in praying for peace in our own tradition.
At the end of his General Audience in St Peter’s Square on June 7th, Pope Francis highlighted the importance of this initiative, which, he says, represents “a short moment of prayer on the recurrence of the meeting in the Vatican between me, the mourned Israeli President Peres, and the Palestinian President Abbas”.
“In our days, there is a great need to pray – Christians, Jews, and Muslims – for peace.”
In these turbulent and troubling times, with millions of people suffering from the effects of war, violence, and hunger, the appeal for peace in the world is more powerful than ever. The Holy Father reflects, “In our days, there is a great need to pray – Christians, Jews, and Muslims – for peace”.
The official Vatican network writes:
“Everyone is invited to stop their daily activities and dedicate a minute to reflect, pray according to one’s own religious tradition, and to commit themselves to peace around the world. This ‘minute’ can be lived alone or together with others, on the street or in church, in the family, at school, [or] at work.”
“‘One Minute for Peace’ is a simple proposal that everyone can accomplish.”
