Pope John Paul II of the Vatican called on the world's Christians to observe a fast for peace Wednesday, March 5, as a special Papal Envoy conveyed a message to Washington to step back from the brink of war on Iraq.
The Pontiff urged a day's fast as a reminder of the long years of suffering by Iraqi citizens caused by an international embargo against their country, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Tuesday, March 4. A day of fasting should "provide greater understanding of the difficulties and sufferings or our brothers confronted by hunger, misery and war," Pope Paul said.
Meanwhile, an informal opinion poll carried out on a private TV channel found that 55.7 percent of viewers said they were willing to follow the appeal to fast. The pontiff's appeal has also been passed on by World Council of Churches in Geneva and the Synod of the Church of England. The Pope, meanwhile, renewed his appeal in support of a special mission by Cardinal Pio Laghi to the United States with a message to President George W. Bush warning against the consequences of war on Iraq.
The Pontiff urged a day's fast as a reminder of the long years of suffering by Iraqi citizens caused by an international embargo against their country, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Tuesday, March 4. A day of fasting should "provide greater understanding of the difficulties and sufferings or our brothers confronted by hunger, misery and war," Pope Paul said.
Meanwhile, an informal opinion poll carried out on a private TV channel found that 55.7 percent of viewers said they were willing to follow the appeal to fast. The pontiff's appeal has also been passed on by World Council of Churches in Geneva and the Synod of the Church of England. The Pope, meanwhile, renewed his appeal in support of a special mission by Cardinal Pio Laghi to the United States with a message to President George W. Bush warning against the consequences of war on Iraq.