The urgency of peace

[Haia]

And prayer and conversion for an end to division among Christians

The Holy Father again prayed for an end to violence and war this morning. At the General Audience on Wednesday, 22 January, the Holy Father launched this appeal in view of peace talks under way in Geneva. Today in Montreux, Switzerland, an international conference has opened to promote peace in Syria, which will be followed by negotiations that will be held in Geneva beginning on 24 January. I pray to the Lord that he touch the hearts of all so that, seeking solely the greater good of the Syrian people, so sorely tried, they may spare no effort to bring about without delay a cessation of the violence and an end to the conflict, which has already caused far too much suffering. For the beloved Syrian nation, I wish a decisive path of reconciliation, of harmony and of rebuilding with the participation of all citizens, where each may find in the other not an enemy, not a rival, but a brother to welcome and to embrace.