Sin leads country in Prayer for Peace

Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin will lead the country in a Vigil for Peace today in solidarity with Pope John Paul II’s initiative to have a meeting among the leaders of world religions in Assisi tomorrow.

In a letter addressed to the Parish priests of the archdiocese of Manila on Jan. 8, Sin enjoined ministers, pastors and members of other Christian communities to this prayer service.

The prayers will be patterned after the week of Prayer for the Christian Unity, the Archdiocesan Office of Communications (AOC) said. The Archdiocesan Prayer Vigil, the AOC said, will be held today, at the EDSA Shrine from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cardinal Sin also encouraged the faithful to go on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace, EDSA from Jan. 13, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, to Jan. 24, the date of the meeting in Assisi, to implore God through this sacrifice, for the gift of peace and the conversion of hearts.

Sin praised the Holy Father’s initiative to have a meeting among the leaders of world religions.

"This is truly a powerful gesture of solidarity with all people who yearn for the end of hostilities, the cessation of wars, the healing of wounds, the salvation of the innocent and suffering poor," said Sin in a statement.

Additionally, Fr. James Reuter of the National Office of Mass Media said the Pope will celebrate a Multi-Faith Day of Prayer for Peace in the World, at Assisi in Italy, tomorrow. He will be celebrating with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Angelican Church in England, with the Patriarch of Constantinople, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in the Middle East, with leaders of the African Traditional Religions, with leaders of Islam, with Buddhist Monks, with the Hindu leaders of India and the Jewish Rabbis from Europe and Asia, said Reuter. — Sandy Araneta