Prayer for peace

"Even at night his heart finds no rest" (Eccl 2:23)

The contemporary world lives in anxiety. During a meeting in Rome, Pope Leo XIV asked young people to pray for peace. Probably his heart too finds no rest at night. This happens to every human heart that does not remain indifferent to the world's suffering.

I recently participated in an international meeting in Israel, exactly a few days before another armed conflict began. From the first day we experienced sleepless nights because we had to be prepared for the anti-missile alarm that could sound at any moment. Then we had to flee to shelters located in every building.

I saw sadness on the faces of all Israelis, most of whom desire not war, but peace. We met with Jews, Muslims, and Christians who strive for reconciliation between the warring parties. In Jerusalem, at the Wailing Wall, we offered prayers for world peace, and in our ears echoed the words of Ecclesiastes: "Vanity of vanities—all is vanity," when peace is lacking.

Beloved in Christ, Sisters and Brothers,

What should we do as Christians if our heart finds no rest even at night? The answer is given to us today by Saint Paul the Apostle in his Letter to the Colossians:

"Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Col 3:1). It is from Him that we should expect the Holy Spirit, that is, the Spirit who bestows peace.

Let us consider: do we really strive for that peace which is above, or sometimes for that which is earthly? This happens when we place material matters above spiritual ones. Let us count the time that during a day, week, month, year we devote to praying for peace.

We believe that if we pray to our heavenly Father just as Jesus Christ did, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and thus the gift of peace. We also know well that prayer is "dying to the world and hiding our life with Christ in God." And this is quite difficult. After all, no one wants to die voluntarily if they don't have to. Only when we truly begin to pray like Christ do all the storms that visit us become calm.

In what way, then, should we care for the peace of our heart, and at the same time for peace for the whole world? Saint Paul again instructs us: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness" (Col 3:5). And above all: "Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator" (Col 3:10).

We no longer need to look for differences between us, but rather to see Jesus Christ present in another person. We no longer need to enrich ourselves in material goods, but rather to ask for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and especially for the gift of peace. For "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:3).