Franciscans unite with Pope Leo XIV in praying and advocating for peace

Earlier this month, the world held its breath in the face of a threat to destroy an entire civilization in the Middle East. Pope Leo XIV called all people to prayer and Franciscan friars responded. 

While the world is cautiously hopeful that the recently extended ceasefire will give the space needed to achieve a diplomatic solution, friars and ministries continue to pray and act for peace. 

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is calling on Catholics to advocate for peace by contacting their representatives and senators and asking them to publicly support de-escalation and diplomacy that avoids further destruction and bloodshed, opposes actions that expand the war, and prioritizes protection of civilians and humanitarian relief. Click here to take action. 

Below are other ways that the friars are working to promote peace: 

Blessed are the peacemakers 

Siena University, a Franciscan liberal arts college in Loudonville, New York, hosted a Prayer Vigil for Peace on April 11, organized by Br. Kevin Mullen, OFM, and the school shared the pope’s message on its website.  Community members gathered in front of the campus chapel to join those around the world who seek the path of reconciliation, not war. 

Br. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, who serves at Siena, attended the prayer event and he has been a vocal advocate for peace in the community. He has spoken out against the Iran War to students on campus, listeners of WAMC public radio and lawmakers at the New York State Capitol. 

“I have been sharing the Franciscan Catholic perspective on current events with President Trump attacking Pope Leo for speaking out in favor of peace and disarmament and against an illegal, immoral war,” said Br. Jacek. 

He is circulating resources to help students and faculty take a stand on peace. He even recorded a video of his interactions with students. After Mass on April 12, Divine Mercy Sunday, he distributed flyers with helpful information about who to contact to speak out against war. 

“It's an invitation to show mercy by being a peacemaker and acting on the call to civic engagement,” said Br. Jacek. 

A rosary for peace 

Before an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, community members of St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland, joined friars to reverently pray a rosary for peace on April 11 at 12 noon, one hour after Pope Leo XIV led a rosary for peace that was livestreamed from St. Peter’s Basilica. 

A post on the parish Facebook page invited the community to unite with the pope in prayer, calling it, “a meaningful opportunity to come together in faith, lifting our prayers for peace in the world, reconciliation among nations and hope in challenging times.” 

What God is calling us to do now 

The Franciscans of Macon, Georgia, hosted an interfaith prayer service for peace on April 16, at Holy Spirit Parish in Macon, with Brothers Steven Pavignano, OFM, and Jim McIntosh, OFM, both in attendance. The gathering was in response to Pope Leo’s request and a statement by the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe that urged everyone to “pray and fast ceaselessly for peace and for strength and insight to work for peace.” 

Br. Steven said the need to pray for peace is overwhelmingly clear, “There's so much violence and so much hatred that we've got to call upon the Lord to give us the courage and the strength to stand up for peace.” 

The prayer service included moments of silence to listen to the Lord’s voice. 

“Part of the purpose of the prayer service was not just for us to speak to God, but to listen to God in our own lives, in our own hearts, about what God is calling us to do now,” added Br. Steve. 

Lamp of Peace

During the Vatican’s Prayer Vigil for Peace, Pope Leo embraced the spirit of St. Francis in a powerful way. Individuals from five continents— Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania — lit candles with a flame from the Lamp of Peace in Assisi, which burns perpetually at the tomb of St. Francis.  

The leader of the worldwide Order of Friars Minor echoed the pope’s call to prayer and expressed the need to further support the forgotten victims of war and violence. 

“We invite our fraternities and the Franciscan Family to intensify prayer for peace, to accompany with closeness those who suffer, and to support, according to the possibilities of each place, concrete initiatives of solidarity and assistance,” wrote Br. Massimo Fusarelli, OFM, Minister General, in a message released on April 13.