Kochi: Responding to Pope Leo XIV’s global appeal, the Syro-Malabar Church has urged the faithful to observe Friday, August 22, 2025, as a day of fasting and prayer dedicated to world peace and solidarity with all those suffering due to war and violence.
In a pastoral circular issued ahead of the day, Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, invited every member of the Church to join in prayerful observance. He emphasized that this spiritual effort is a united response to the Holy Father’s call for Catholics worldwide to intercede for justice, reconciliation, and peace.
The Archbishop, writing on behalf of himself and the Bishops assembled at the Synod, encouraged the faithful to fast to the extent possible and to participate in communal acts of prayer. He directed parishes and religious houses to arrange at least one hour of Eucharistic Adoration, thereby ensuring that the global Catholic community remains spiritually united in its cry for peace.
Mar Raphael Thattil reminded the faithful that beyond global concerns, this day of prayer should also include petitions for the Syro-Malabar Church and for personal and community intentions. Highlighting the intercessory power of the Blessed Virgin Mary, invoked as the Queen of Peace, he expressed confidence that God’s mercy would be poured out upon the whole world through the Church’s united prayer.
The call comes at a time of heightened global tensions, conflicts, and humanitarian crises, making the observance a significant spiritual expression of solidarity with victims of war. Faithful across the Syro-Malabar Church’s global diaspora are expected to join in prayer initiatives, uniting with Pope Leo XIV and the Universal Church in this special day of fasting and intercession.