On Sunday, Pope Francis declared the commencement of a Year of Prayer in anticipation of the forthcoming Jubilee in 2025. During his remarks, Pope underscored the importance of rediscovering the profound value and absolute necessity of prayer, emphasizing its role in individual lives, the life of the Church, and on a global scale.

The Dicastery for Evangelization will play a pivotal role in preparing resources to aid in the observance of this dedicated Year of Prayer. Pope Francis, in his call to the faithful, urged a special focus on praying for Christian unity and implored Christians not to falter in invoking the Lord for peace, mentioning specific regions such as Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and extending to places like Ecuador.

Pope reiterated his concern for the vulnerable, emphasizing the impact of conflicts on the weakest members of society. He expressed heartfelt sentiments for the countless children suffering from injuries, loss, and deprivation of their dreams and future, emphasizing the collective responsibility to pray and actively contribute to the pursuit of peace for their sake.

Turning his attention to a distressing incident, Pope Francis expressed sorrow at the recent kidnapping in Haiti, where a group of individuals, including six religious sisters, was abducted in Port-au-Prince. Addressing the situation, Pope earnestly called for the release of all hostages and prayed for social harmony in Haiti. In a plea to halt the violence causing immense suffering to the population, he urged, "I call on everyone to stop the violence, which causes so much suffering to that dear population."