MALTA
Churches unite in praying for peace in Syria on World Peace day
On 23 Dec the Archbishop’s Curia announced that Mgr Charles Scicluna would like all churches in Malta to make a special prayer for peace in Syria during Mass on 1 January 2017, Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and World Peace Day.
Every day throughout November and December news bulletins showed heartbreaking scenes of the suffering which the people of Syria were enduring, especially in Aleppo – a great tragedy with the destruction of so many innocent people.
This major city where a number of religious and ethnic groups, including a substantial number of Christians, had been living together for hundreds of years now lies in ruins, emptied of its inhabitants.
Archbishop Scicluna urged the people of Malta to show full solidarity with their brothers in Syria who are going through so much suffering and to heed the appeal of Pope Francis in his message for the Day of Peace.
The Syrian people need our help. Several organizations including Aid to the Church in Need are doing great work providing vital aid such as food and medicines. However, Syria also needs the spiritual help of our prayers, especially to achieve lasting peace and so that love can prevail over hatred.
Maltese Christians are therefore encouraged to remember in their daily prayers the Syrian people and all those who are victims of violence, terrorism and hatred in various places in the world.
ACN Malta
