Pope supports Iraqi bishops' call for fasting, prayer for peace

Published: 2006-04-03

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI supported the Iraqi bishops' call for two days of fasting and prayer for peace, saying the world should stop to remember the fate of the "tormented" country. The pope made his remarks during an Angelus talk April 2. The same day, at least 50 people were killed in worsening sectarian violence in Iraq. Addressing tens of thousands of pilgrims from his apartment window above St. Peter's Square, the pope noted that Iraq's bishops had appealed to "all believers and people of good will" to pray and fast April 3 and 4 for peace in Iraq and in the entire world. "This is an important appeal that touches our hearts, for me as well, and therefore I invite everyone to join in the initiative of our brothers in this tormented country," the pope said. Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad, Iraq, said the two-day fast proposed by the Christian community also had been welcomed by Muslims in Iraq.

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