At the request of Pope Leo XIV, today, Friday, 22 August 2025, Christians are invited to observe a day of fasting and prayer, asking the Lord to grant us peace and justice, and to console all those who are suffering because of war.
The Holy Father draws particular attention to the immense suffering endured by so many in the Holy Land, in Ukraine, and in other parts of the world.
As the Church today commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen, the Pope encourages us to turn to her with this simple prayer: “Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us, that all peoples may find the path of peace.”
Earlier this week, on Tuesday in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope for a resolution to the war in Ukraine, while underlining the importance of continuing to “work hard and pray hard” for peace.