Pope announces day of fasting, prayer for Syria

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis today (Sept 1) condemned the use of chemical weapons, but he called for a negotiated settlement to the civil war in Syria, and announced he would lead a worldwide day of fasting and prayer for peace there on Sept 7. Pope Francis abandoned the traditional religious theme of the weekly papal appearance to crowds in St Peter's Square and instead spoke entirely, and with anguish, about Syria. “My heart is deeply wounded by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments” on the horizon, Pope Francis said, in an apparent reference to the US and France considering a military strike to punish the Syrian regime for a chemical weapons attack. Pope Francis reiterated previous appeals for all sides in the civil war to put down their arms and “listen to the voice of their conscience and with courage take up the way of negotiations”. With tens of thousands of people in the square applauding his words, Pope Francis delivered his strongest remarks yet to express his horror at the use of chemical weapons. “I forcefully condemn the use of chemical weapons,” he said. “I tell you I have impressed in my mind and heart the images of what happened in the last days.” “There is the judgment of God, and also the judgment of history, upon our actions,” he said, “from which there is no escaping.” Usually soft-spoken, Pope Francis raised his voice as he declared: “War brings on war! Violence brings on violence.” His admonishment against resorting to arms as a solution recalled the repeated emotional implorations a decade ago by the late Pope John Paul II in a vain attempt to persuade the US administration then led by President George W Bush not to invade Iraq. The deteriorating drama of Syria inspired Pope Francis to set aside Sept 7 as a day of fasting and prayer for Syria. Pope Francis invited Catholics, other Christians, those of other faiths and non-believers who are “men of good will” to join him that evening in St Peter's Square to invoke the “gift” of peace for Syria, the rest of the Middle East and worldwide where there is conflict. “The world needs to see gestures of peace and hear words of hope and of peace,” Pope Francis said. He said the prayer vigil in the square would last from 7pm until midnight. AP