Pope’s call for peace: UAE Christians urged to fast, pray on Friday

Bishop Paolo Martinelli has urged Christian expats in the UAE to join the call made by Pope Leo XIV to observe a day of fasting and prayer on Friday for world peace.

In his weekly general audience at the Vatican, the Pope turned his thoughts to the world’s many conflict zones, especially Ukraine and Palestine.

“While our earth continues to be wounded by wars… I invite all the faithful to devote the day of August 22 to fasting and prayer, imploring the Lord to grant us peace and justice, and to dry the tears of those who suffer as a result of the ongoing armed conflicts,” the Pope said.

Friday, August 22, is commemorated as the feast day of the Queenship of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. The title of ‘queen’ in not just an honour but also reflects Mother Mary’s spiritual motherhood.

“May Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede so that peoples may find the path to peace,” the Pope added.

It’s worth noting that a mosque in Abu Dhabi was renamed ‘Mariam Umm Eisa’ (Mary, the Mother of Jesus), reflecting the UAE’s spirit of tolerance and interfaith harmony.

Bishop Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, who is based at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, invited all the faithful to participate in the Pope’s “urgent appeal”.
“Through fasting and prayer, we ask the Virgin Mary, queen of peace, to intercede with her son for peace,” Bishop Martinelli said, while also asking all the church masses to recite a prayer for peace on Friday.