In this 4th week of our novena for peace we invite you to pray on the writings and teachings of our late beloved pontiff, Pope Francis. He consistently taught that peace is rooted in justice, dialogue, and care for all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

In the third year of his pontificate, in 2015, he issued his landmark encyclical Laudato Si’. In it, he links care for creation to peace, warning that environmental destruction fuels conflict. He urges religious leaders and all people of goodwill to work together for reconciliation, forgiveness, and the dignity of every person.

In his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis calls for a culture of encounter, solidarity, and fraternity beyond borders. He condemns war, nuclear weapons, and the arms trade as failures of humanity. Francis emphasizes nonviolence as a political and personal path, echoing the Gospel’s call to love enemies.

Our prayer this week is inspired by Pope Francis’ teaching in especially these two encyclicals. It’s written in the form of a call and response litany. If possible, we encourage you to pray it with others. Or you may wish to simply pray it by yourself.

Thank you for joining us in this 40 day Novena of Prayer and Fasting for Peace.

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