Catholics worldwide held a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria joined by Jews, Muslims and Orthodox Christians, with Pope Francis set to host a mass vigil on Saturday.
Francis has called for a “cry for peace” to rise up around the globe and has said he will attend the four-hour prayer session in St Peter’s Square.
Earlier in the week he wrote to leaders of the G20 leading world economies urging them to “lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution”.
The Vatican has warned military strikes planned by France and the United States could escalate the conflict and cause it to spill over into the region.
The Catholic Church, which counts 1.2 billion faithful, has mobilised to adhere to the pope’s call through homilies in churches as well as through social media.
“Peace is a good which overcomes every barrier, because it belongs all of humanity #prayforpeace,” Pope Francis wrote in one tweet, with another saying simply, “Never again war! War never again!”
When he announced the initiative on Sunday, Francis urged Christians from other denominations, faithful from other religions as well as atheists to join in.
Syria’s Grand Mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun, called for Syrians to join in the prayers and the patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox, also backed the call.
In France, Muslim faithful at the Great Mosque of Paris held prayers on Friday following the pope’s call and asking “for the blood to stop flowing” in Syria.
Chief Rabbi of Rome Riccardo Di Segni said the Jewish community was “in harmony” with the Vatican and would focus their prayers on the plight of Syria.
In Lebanon, the vice president of the Shiite Higher Council, Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan, voiced support.
“Islam calls consistently for peace and harmony, and we consistently condemn killings, terrorism and foreign interference,” he said.
