Newly elected American pontiff, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who took the papal name Pope Leo XIV, has declared Friday, August 22, a global day of prayer and fasting for peace, coinciding with the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Pope made the announcement during his General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, according to Vatican News.
His appeal comes amid escalating violence in Ukraine, the Holy Land, and other regions plagued by conflict. Humanitarian agencies have continued to warn of worsening crises, with displaced populations rising and civilians increasingly trapped in hostilities.
“Too many innocent lives are being lost, and too many families are bearing the weight of wars that seem endless. We cannot remain indifferent,” Pope Leo said. He urged the faithful to embrace fasting, prayer, and acts of charity, stressing that these are not mere symbolic gestures but instruments capable of driving change.
The chosen date aligns with the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Marian feast honouring Mary as a figure of intercession and peace. By linking the observance to this liturgical celebration, Pope Leo underscored the Church’s tradition of entrusting global concerns to Mary’s care.
“Let us ask Mary, Queen of Peace, to help nations rediscover the path of peace. May she intercede for people torn apart by hatred and violence,” he added.
Leaders from conflict-hit regions were quick to endorse the initiative. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, said, “Prayer is not a magic formula, but it opens hearts where distrust and hatred have grown. It is a step toward rebuilding trust.”
In Ukraine, Bishop Vitalij Skomarovskyj described the Pope’s call as a powerful sign of solidarity. “This call reminds us we are not forgotten. Prayer and fasting have great power; they can change the course of history,” he said.
Alongside the appeal, Pope Leo emphasised the Church’s long-standing teaching that peace is inseparable from both justice and forgiveness. Quoting the legacy of St. John Paul II, he declared, “True peace cannot exist without justice, but neither can it survive without forgiveness. Forgiveness is not surrender; it is the strength that prevents new wounds.”
The Pope’s message resonates strongly amid ongoing debates over ceasefire negotiations, reparations, and transitional justice in global conflict zones.
