~`+`~POPE FRANCIS PEACE PLAN FOR SYRIA~`+`~
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Pope's Peace Plan Slows Push for Syria Strike
Pope Francis is leading widespread global opposition to Western military action in Syria, proposing a six-point plan for peace in the country as well as calling for a worldwide day of prayer and fasting. The pontiff's popularity and proactive approach are making it harder for the Obama administration and other pro-intervention governments to win the support of their electorates, according to the global forecasting :::::
The Holy See's six-point program outlines path to avoid additional bloodshed in the Middle-Eastern country.
BY EDWARD PENTIN
| Posted 9/6/13 at 10:44 AM
usccb.org
VATICAN CITY — In the latest move showing Pope Francis' determination to prevent further bloodshed in Syria, the Holy Father has sent a letter to leaders of the G20 group of nations who are meeting in Russia, urging them "to lay aside the futile pursuit" of a military solution to the conflict and instead renew their commitment to dialogue and negotiation.
News of the Pope's appeal came as the Vatican briefed the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See Sept. 5, during which the Holy See issued a rare and detailed six-point program for peace as an alternative to the use of violence.
In his Sept. 4 letter, addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is chairing this year's G20 meeting in St. Petersburg that opened yesterday, the Pope said it is "regrettable that, from the very beginning of the conflict in Syria, one-sided interests have prevailed and in fact hindered the search for a solution that would have avoided the senseless massacre now unfolding."
He added that G20 leaders "cannot remain indifferent to the dramatic situation of the beloved Syrian people, which has lasted far too long and even risks bringing greater suffering to a region bitterly tested by strife and needful of peace."
"To the leaders present, to each and every one, I make a heartfelt appeal for them to help find ways to overcome the conflicting positions and to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution," the Holy Father said. "Rather, let there be a renewed commitment to seek, with courage and determination, a peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation of the parties, unanimously supported by the international community."
The Holy Father also said the leaders have a "moral duty to do everything possible to ensure humanitarian assistance" reaches all those affected by the conflict, also beyond Syria's borders.
Principles for Peace
Earlier, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican's foreign minister, held a special briefing at the Vatican for all ambassadors accredited to the Holy See to inform them of the "significance of Pope Francis' initiative" to hold a special day of fasting and prayer on Sept. 7.
But many of the diplomats were surprised to also be handed a three-page "non paper", or aide-memoire, detailing the Holy See's concerns for Syria and a list of six points which it considers "important for preparing a possible [peace] plan for the future of Syria."
The document, entitled "Regarding the Situation in Syria," focuses on "following general principles," which include re-launching dialogue and reconciliation, avoiding division of the country into different zones and maintaining its territorial integrity.
The Holy See asks that there be a "place for everyone" in a new Syria, in particular for minorities such as Christians. It says Alawites (President Bashar al-Assad's ruling sect) must also have guarantees or they may emigrate or risk their own lives by remaining in the country.
"Such a risk would make it more difficult to reach a compromise with them," the Holy See says, and it argues that all minorities must be involved in preparing any new constitution and laws.
The document proposes the establishment of a ministry dedicated to minorities, insists on the concept of citizenship with equal dignity and emphasizes the importance of respecting human rights and religious freedom. It also stresses the importance of asking "members of the opposition to distance themselves from extremist groups, isolate them and reject terrorism openly and clearly."
The last of the six points underlines the importance of ensuring "all necessary cooperation and assistance for the immense task of reconstruction in the country."
Papal Interventions
Elsewhere, the document recalls the "numerous and heartfelt" interventions by the Pope on the crisis, as well as those by the Holy See.
"Absolute priority must be given to ending the violence," the Holy See says, adding that the "joint effort of the international community is essential."
It stresses the importance of respecting humanitarian law and that one "cannot remain passive" in the face of continuing violations of it. "The use of chemical weapons must be stopped and condemned with particular determination," it says.
The document is particularly strong on humanitarian assistance, saying the situation is "extremely grave" and that it's foreseeable by the end of the year that half of Syria's population will need assistance. To allow aid to reach all parts of the country, it calls for a ceasefire, even a partial one, and guaranteed safety for aid workers.
Recalling that the Catholic Church is "at the forefront in providing humanitarian aid," the Holy See also appeals for "solidarity and cooperation" on the part of all governments in the region and non-governmental organizations.
The document ends by stressing the urgency of the cessation of violence, avoiding a possible "sectarian degeneration" of the conflict. It reiterates the need for dialogue and negotiation and underlines that the focus must be "on the good of the people, not the seeking of positions of power or other unilateral aims."
A diplomat who attended the briefing said he and his colleagues were "surprised at the detail of the program," which they saw as an effort on the Holy See's part to restart the Geneva II negotiations.
Those talks, expected to take place in late 2013, are aimed at ending the Syrian conflict and organizing a transition period and post-war reconstruction. But Geneva II has so far stalled, as the United States has been unable to persuade the opposition to take part.
"The briefing showed us that the Vatican means business; it's not just rhetoric or platitudes," the diplomat said, and he noted the high level of representation at the meeting in the Old Synod Hall.
"All ambassadors from the G20 were there; it was in effect a full house, essentially a three-line whip," he said.
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Day of Prayer and Fasting
In the meantime, many Church groups have mobilized to take part in tomorrow's day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Middle East. At the vigil in St. Peter's Square that evening, diplomats will be placed alongside Pope Francis.
The Holy Father is expected to arrive at 6:30pm, and sources say it is likely he will remain there in prayer for a "considerable part of the time."
Edward Pentin is the Register's Rome correspondent and a contributor to EWTN News Nightly.
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Pope Leads World Prayers For Peace In Syria
Pope Francis presides over a mass vigil for prayer for peace in Syria at the Vatican, on September 7, 2013
AFP
Dario Thuburn September 7, 2013 3:38 PM
Pope Francis called for reconciliation in Syria on Saturday as he led a mass peace vigil on St Peter's square and millions of Catholics worldwide were joined by other faiths in a day of fasting and prayer.
"In beloved Syria, in the Middle East, in all the world, let us pray for reconciliation and peace, let us work for reconciliation and peace," the pontiff told tens of thousands who had gathered on the square for the four-hour event, with smaller gatherings held in churches, mosques and synagogues around the globe.
Francis has called for a "cry for peace" from humanity, firmly opposing all fighting including the military strikes against the Syrian regime being pushed by the United States and France.
"War always marks the failure of peace, it is always a defeat for humanity."
Earlier in the week he wrote to leaders of the G20 top world economies meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia, urging them to "lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution".
Vatican officials have warned international armed intervention could escalate the war into a wider conflagration that would further harm Christian minorities in the Middle East.
The Syrian conflict has killed an estimated 110,000 people since it erupted in March 2011, and the United Nations estimates two million refugees have fled the country.
The pope has repeatedly called for immediate peace negotiations and a process of reconciliation, as well as more humanitarian efforts to help civilians.
The Catholic Church, which counts 1.2 billion faithful worldwide, has mobilised and spread the pope's message through homilies in churches as well as through social media.
"Pray for Peace!" he tweeted on Saturday on his @pontifex account.
The Vatican has even issued instructions for Catholic parents to prepare "sober" family meals with children and grandparents on Saturday that would be "rich in words".
The Vatican's Osservatore Romano daily published an interview with an Italian nun living in Syria who said fasting and prayer could "make one listen to a deeper wisdom".
Prayer "is a powerful weapon, though also a peaceful one," Sister Marta Luisa Fagnani was quoted as saying.
When he announced the initiative on Sunday, Francis urged Christians from other denominations, faithful from other religions and atheists to join in.
Syria's Sunni Muslim leader, Grand Mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun, called for Syrians to join in the prayers, and the patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox, also backed the call.
In France, Muslim faithful at the Great Mosque of Paris held prayers for peace on Friday.
Chief Rabbi of Rome Riccardo Di Segni said the Jewish community was also "in harmony" with the Vatican.
In Lebanon, the vice president of the Shiite Higher Council, Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan, voiced support, as did Christian leaders across the Balkans and in Latin America.
The appeal has been particularly well received by Christian minorities in the Middle East, where often-divided leaders have been united in their concern about a possible spread of the Syrian conflict and the rise of radical Islam.
Traditionally pacifist and anti-clerical groups, like the Radicals and the Left, Ecology and Freedom party in Italy, also supported the pope's appeal.
A giant peace flag was raised in Assisi in Italy, the hometown of the patron saint of peace, St Francis, whose name the Argentine pope adopted when he was elected in March.
At the start of the ceremony in the Vatican, a large icon of the Virgin Mary was carried across St Peter's Square by a group of Swiss Guards.
Prayers then alternated with moments of silence as a mournful pope bowed his head.
The pope's call is not unprecedented -- previous popes have appealed against the Iraq war, the conflicts in the Balkans and the Vietnam War -- but it is rare and unusual.
The last time the Vatican called a similar day of prayer and fasting was under late pope John Paul II in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
"This cry from the pope distills the calls coming from the one big family that is humanity," French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who led multiple peace missions on behalf of John Paul II ahead of the Iraq war in 2003, told AFP.
A simple, yet powerful way we can all help to make this world
a better, happier, more spiritual place.
The time has come for us to turn our enemies into friends
and our friends into angels.
This takes a great deal of heart, prayers and forgiveness to achieve.
In light of the recent world events in London, Egypt,
the entire Middle East and all the troubled areas of the earth,
we are re-releasing the article on the Prayer of Love, Peace and Light.
This article is so deep that every time you read it you infuse
your being with the healing vibrations of love, peace and light..
This prayer is simple for anyone to do, and it is highly effective.
Please share this prayer and article with others
so that we may spread light around the world,
giving peace and love to all to help harmonize the
present world situation.
`~+~`DIVINE LIGHT OF THE WORLD`~+~`
By:`Angelic`Heavenly`Star`...
~`***`~
~`***`~~`*+*`~~`***`~
~`***`~
The skies are gray, no patch of blue
but still your light comes shining through
Your light is always there for us to see
shining forever over land and sea
~`***`~
~`***`~~`*+*`~~`***`~
~`***`~
Come rain or shine your light is mine
as God shed HIS Love for all mankind
His Light overcomes the darkness of heart
as promised by the Dove of Noah's Ark...
~`***`~
~`***`~~`*+*`~~`***`~
~`***`~
`author's note:
...("the following quoted from an unknown author")....
"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life
is your gift to those who come after.
Make it a fantastic one'''''
LIVE IT WELL!
ENJOY TODAY!
DO SOMETHING FUN!
BE HAPPY!
BE THANKFUL!
HAVE A GREAT DAY BLESSED WITH GOD'S LOVE!
Remember always.....
"It is health that is true wealth
and not pieces of gold and silver.
Life Is Too Short
Life is too short to let even one day
be frenzied or frazzled or frittered away.
Life is too short not to take time to do
the things that will hold the most meaning for you.
***`+`***
`I am but a star in the heavens above
guiding over you in God's eternal love
I once was a soul like you on earth now
a heavenly star in miracle of rebirth!
