Pope Appeals for Prayers for Middle East Peace

May 12, 2004

Source: Zenit

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=53508

On May 12, 2004 Zenit reported, "John Paul II again appealed for prayers for peace in the world, especially in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. The Pope made his appeal at the end of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, when he received a peace plan for Iraq presented by Franco Vaccari, founder of the Rondine, Italy-based Citadel of Peace, an institution that aims to foster dialogue among the world's youth. When presenting the proposal, Vaccari, 52, a Catholic psychologist who is married and father of four, was accompanied by four bishops of the Tuscany region of central Itay, as well as by the superior general of the Camaldolese Congregation of the Order of St. Benedict, and the superior of the Franciscan Shrine of La Verna. 'I renew the invitation to pray for peace in the world, especially in Iraq and the Middle East,' the Holy Father said when greeting his visitors. 'May those beloved populations be able, with the support of the international community, to walk with determination on the path of reconciliation, dialogue and cooperation,' he said."