Poles Prayed for Peace in the Middle East during June & Special Action on 1 July

A building destroyed during the civil war, credit. Par Freedom's Falcon — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31625572

June was a month of special prayer for peace in the Middle East. The campaign of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need was supported by the Polish Episcopate. “I thank everyone for the compassion shown to our suffering sisters and brothers,” said Father Prof. Waldemar Cisło, head of the foundations’ Polish section. Pope Francis has established July 1st as a day of reflection and prayer for Lebanon.

Every Friday in June, at 3 p.m., prayers were said before the Blessed Sacrament asking that the hearts of those who influence the situation in the Middle East be changed. Those involved in the campaign prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, invoked the intercession of Our Lady “Cedar of Lebanon” and St. Charbel, the extraordinary patron saint of the Middle East.

Rev. Prof. Waldemar Cisło expressed gratitude to all who join in helping the Church in the East: “Let us remember that we are one Church, one Mystical Body of Christ; therefore, this solidarity with our brothers and sisters is our duty. I thank all those who support us materially, but also through prayer, and we can support our suffering brothers and sisters,” said Fr. Prof. Cisło. “We asked for this greatest gift: the gift of peace for which Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, the war-torn countries hope. For all the goodness, for the compassion shown to our suffering sisters and brothers, I sincerely thank God on their behalf,” added the director of the foundation’s Polish section.

At Pope Francis’ initiative, July 1^st of this year will be another occasion of intensive pray for Lebanon. “Together with the Heads of all the Churches present in the Land of the Cedars, we will let ourselves be inspired by the Word of the Scripture that says: “The Lord has plans for peace” (Jer 29: 11). I invite you all to join spiritually with us, praying that praying that Lebanon may recover from the serious crisis it is going through and show the world once again its face of peace and hope,” said the Successor of Peter, encouraging people to join in the action.

The Polish section of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need coordinates various projects aimed at raising funds for the people of the Middle East. On the pkwp.org website, products made by Christians in the Holy Land are available. Donations can still be made to support Lebanon and Syria.

The initiative of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need in June was a response to the dramatic situation of the Church in the Middle East caused, among other things, by the long war in Syria.

Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need