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| Pope Francis Photo: Reuters |
By Michael Gryboski,
Christian Post Reporter
Pope Francis called on Christians worldwide to recite the Lord’s
Prayer, also known as the Our Father, at noon Wednesday in response to the
coronavirus pandemic.
The head of the Roman
Catholic Church took to his official Twitter account on Tuesday morning to
announce the call to prayer, asking for participation from Christians of all
denominations.
“Let us stay united. I
invite all Christians to direct their voices together toward Heaven, reciting
the Our Father tomorrow, 25 March, at noon,” the pontiff tweeted.
The Twitter post
included a short video of Francis giving a prayer that had English subtitles,
calling on people to “pray together for the sick, for the people who are
suffering.”
“I thank all
Christians, all the men and women of goodwill who pray at this moment in
unison, whichever religious tradition they belong to,” Francis said in the
video.
The Conference of European Churches, an ecumenical Christian
organization that received the invitation to pray at noon Wednesday via
official letter, announced that they were taking part.
“During these times of
global uncertainty, we need signs of unity and hope,” said the CEC in a statement
released Tuesday.
“The world today calls
us to be united. Not only fighting against this devastating pandemic, but also
in order to support one another and to feel in communion, remembering to draw
lessons from this crisis.”
The World Council of
Churches has also accepted the papal invitation given to them via official
letter, with WCC General Secretary, the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, saying that such
observances “are a reminder that we are one human family.”
“As people across the globe are in their scattered working places
at home, we will have the opportunity to unite our voices in praying to God
with the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us,” he said.
In addition to
Francis’ call for global recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, the World Evangelical
Alliance is hosting a Global Day of Prayer & Fasting on Sunday.
WEA Secretary General
Bishop Efraim Tendero said in a statement released Monday that he believed
prayer was “still the greatest help that we can give.”
“As we pray for people
in this difficult time, let us assure them of God’s love and care for those who
are fearful,” Tendero said.
“Let’s pray especially
for all the frontline medical and government workers — for protection, good
health, and wisdom in all that they do. Working together with God’s help, we
shall overcome COVID-19.”
https://www.christianpost.com/world/pope-francis-calls-for-global-reciting-of-lords-prayer-wednesday-ecumenical-bodies-pledge-to-participate.html
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