The importance of prayer for peace: a call from Pope Francis to Christians of different denominations

On January 20, Pope Francis received an ecumenical delegation from Finland in the Apostolic Palace, which was on a pilgrimage to Rome on the occasion of the feast of St. Henry, the patron saint of the Nordic country. This event, according to the Pope, continues to unite Christians from various Churches and ecclesial communities, uniting them in the praise of God.

Prayer for peace as a priority

In his message, Francis stressed the need to “not stop praying for the gift of peace, as precious as it is fragile.” The Pope underlined the importance of peace, which requires constant intercession and effort to preserve it. This invitation to prayer was addressed especially to the delegation made up of Catholics, Orthodox, and Lutherans, headed by the new archbishop of the Finnish Orthodox Church, Elias of Helsinki, together with other bishops and ecclesial representatives.

Walking together in hope

The Pope also recalled that, in this Holy Year 2025, all Christians are “pilgrims of hope.” On this journey of faith, he quoted the words of the Letter to the Hebrews: “Let us hold fast to the profession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is worthy of faith.” Francis insisted on the need to live with hope, trusting in God’s promises. St. Henry, messenger of peace, is the living example of this hope, calling everyone to pray tirelessly for the fragile gift of peace.

Ecumenical unity through music and the Creed

The Pope also reflected on the unity that is lived through faith, pointing out that St. Henry symbolizes this unity given by God, since his feast day brings together Christians of different traditions to pay homage to the Lord. He thanked the choirs that accompanied the pilgrimage for their participation, stressing that “whoever sings prays twice,” and mentioned that this act of prayer through music is a beautiful sing of ecumenism.

Regarding the common faith, Francis said that the Nicene Creed is an “extraordinary score of faith” that unites all Christians. This “hymn of truth” has Jesus Christ as its center, who reveals God in his immense love. This symphony of truth, when heard with the heart, fills us with hope, a hope that never disappoints.

A call to be witnesses of incarnate love

Finally, the Pope invited those present to bear witness to the love of God in their daily lives, pointing out that this is the true ecumenical vocation of Christians. At the end of the audience, Francis invited them to join in prayer, reciting together the Our Father, as a sign of unity in faith and love for God.

This meeting underlines the importance of unity and constant prayer for peace, remembering that hope in Christ does not fail and must be the driving force that drives Christians to walk together towards a future of fraternity and peace.