by Bishop Jean-Marie Chami *
Cairo – In a world torn apart by conflict, where “war is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading” , we publish the appeal letter of Bishop Jean-Marie Chami, Greek Melkite Patriarchal Vicar General for Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan.
Addressed to the faithful of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church, this letter calls on all people of goodwill to implore the gift of peace for all.
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Dear brothers and sisters,
Dear friends and peacemakers,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” .
In these difficult days our world is experiencing, our hearts are deeply troubled. The painful events unfolding in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and so many other regions have placed us before a global crisis of unprecedented magnitude.
Violence, fear, and uncertainty seem to prevail, and all of humanity groans in its longing for true peace.
Faced with this situation, we might feel powerless. However, as believers, we know that we are never defenceless. The Lord Jesus told us this clearly:
“Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive…” And Scripture reminds us again: “…You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly.”
Today, in the name of Jesus Christ, we turn to the Father, the Father of all mercy. We ask Him with faith and perseverance to intervene, to intervene powerfully, and to establish His peace where human strength reaches its limits.
Therefore, I address this appeal not only to the faithful of our Greek Melkite Catholic Church, but also to all people of goodwill who carry in their hearts a sincere desire for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
I invite you to embark together on a demanding yet fruitful spiritual journey: a journey of prayer, fasting, and adoration.
Let each of us choose a concrete way to fast, according to our abilities and discernment. Fasting is not simply deprivation: it is a source of grace, an act of humility and trust, an inner openness to God's action. The Lord teaches us that certain spiritual victories can only be obtained through fasting and prayer.
I also invite you to observe forty days of adoration, so that each of you may find a church, a chapel, or a place of reflection. May these forty days be a spiritual preparation for the Great Fast of Lent, but above all, may they be offered now for unity among peoples, peace in the world, and God's mercy upon our wounded humanity.
The time has come for us to take on our responsibilities as Christians, as believers. If we cannot always act through political or human means, we can—and we must—act through our heavenly connection, through our living communion with the Lord, by interceding with Him through fasting and prayer.
In this spirit, let us pray with confidence through the intercession of Saint Mariam of Jesus Crucified, humble witness of the Gospel, peacemaker, and messenger of hope for the Holy Land and the entire Middle East. May she teach us total abandonment to the will of the Father and intercede for our suffering peoples, so that God's peace may triumph where hatred and violence seek to prevail. Let us step out of our comfort zone. Let us enter into a communion of prayer that transcends borders, cultures, and religions. Let us be artisans of peace and artisans of mercy.
The time has come
I implore you: let us unite and pray.
To all of you, and to your families,
May our Lord Jesus Christ,
the true Light born of the Father before all ages,
be before you to guide you on the path of truth,
be behind you to protect you from all evil,
beside you to strengthen you in times of trial,
and may He dwell in your hearts as Life and Resurrection,
revealing to you the immensity of His Love and the sweetness of His peace.
*Titular Bishop of Tarsus Patriarchal Vicar General of the Greek Melkite Catholics for Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan
