Ahead of celebrations for St Patrick’s Day on March 17, the Irish bishops have called for prayers for world peace and the safety of all migrants. Source: The Tablet.
Meeting for their Spring General Gathering in Maynooth, the Irish bishops published a statement calling for peace in the Middle East and describing war as “utterly destructive”.
Referring to the tension and volatility in the world today, they appealed for prayers for peace and healing, and that “the voices of hatred will be replaced by a politics dedicated to upholding the God-given dignity of every human person, the common good and solidarity with those in need”.
“In an era of change and readjustment of geopolitical balances and cultural paradigms, war is not the answer. No political leader has the authority to unleash war at will,” they stressed.
The Irish Episcopal Conference said the uncertainty caused by the situation in the Middle East was destabilising for the world on many fronts – politically, socially and economically. “This is a time for international diplomacy to work for peace based on justice.”
Referring to Pope Leo XIV’s call in his Angelus address for all parties involved to “assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm”, the Irish bishops also appealed this Lent for fasting from words and acts of hatred and conflict, as well as the discovery anew of the life-giving peace of Jesus Christ.
In their call for nationwide prayers for world peace on St Patrick’s Day, the bishops highlighted that the national patron was himself an immigrant.
“As we celebrate St Patrick’s Day this year on Tuesday, 17 March, we remember our national patron as a pioneer for peace and reconciliation.”
“Given the importance of our national feast day, we also ask parishes to reach out to people from around the world who have come to live within our communities, and to extend greetings of prayerful support and solidarity at this time.”
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Irish bishops to pray for peace and safety of migrants on St Patrick’s Day (By Sarah MacDonald, The Tablet)
