Service for Middle East to be held in London as bishops call for prayers for peace

An ecumenical evening prayer service for peace in the Middle East will take place at Our Lady of Victories Church in Kensington on Thursday 30 April, at 7pm.

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales expressed their solidarity with Pope Leo XIV “in his sustained witness and unshakeable commitment to the Gospel of Peace”.

The bishops met at the English College’s Convento Palazzola just outside Rome from 18-23 April for a one-day plenary assembly and a week of formation.

“We embrace our responsibility to act as bridge-builders and peacemakers,” the bishops said, and called upon al the faithful to join them in “redoubling our prayers and advocacy for peace and justice”.

They referenced Pope Leo’s recent words in Equatorial Guinea: “There is hunger for a future imbued with hope that is capable of engendering a new sense of justice and producing fruits of peace and fraternity.

“This is not an unknown future that we must passively await, but rather one that we ourselves are called to build with God’s grace.”

“Hope is central to our Christian faith,” the bishops continued. “In Eastertide, we are reminded that we are called to build a future sustained by the Risen Christ.

“We pray that the leaders of all peoples at war open their minds and hearts to the dialogue and encounter necessary to attain a peace which disarms and endures.”

They invited the faithful to pray St John XXIII’s prayer for peace: “Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, ‘Peace to you,’ grant us peace.

“Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.

“Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples of the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all.”

An ecumenical evening prayer service for peace in the Middle East will take place at Our Lady of Victories Church in Kensington on Thursday 30 April, at 7pm.

Bishop James Curry, auxiliary bishop of Westminster and lead bishop for the Holy Land, and Bishop Mike Royal, secretary of Churches Together in England, will lead the prayers.

Dr Harry Hagopian, international lawyer and former assistant general secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, will give an address.

Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Britain and Ireland and president for the Orthodox Churches for Churches Together in England will give the final blessing.

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