The heads of the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church have called upon Catholics to pray and fast for the suffering Christians of Syria and Iraq, especially on Ash Wednesday.
Stating that the crisis has reached “apocalyptic dimensions,” Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako asked Aid to the Church in Need, “Pray and fast that we may remain in our homelands, that the refugees may return to their villages and cities.”
“Our faith is put to the test day after day,” added Melkite Patriarch Gregory III Laham. “We see the suffering of the children, the pain of the parents, we are surrounded by hatred and death. We want to be able to live in peace once more in our beloved homeland … Please fast and pray with us! It is impossible that the Lord will not answer the combined prayers and sacrifices of His children.”
Source: Catholic World News
