(Vatican City, Italy)– On Monday, October 7, the one-year anniversary of the the Hamas-Israel war, Pope Francis calls the Church to pray and fast for peace.

“In this dramatic hour of our history,” the Pope said, “while the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to devastate entire peoples and nations,” the Christian community is reminded of its call to “put itself at the service of humanity.” Vatican News

The Pope issued this invitation in St. Peter’s Square after the Mass to open the second session of the General Assembly of the Synod. On Sunday, October 6, he will go to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to entrust this intention to our Mother Mary, and he has asked the members of the Synod to accompany him there.