Vatican City: A strong appeal for peace was heard in Rome at the beginning of Holy Week as Church leaders urged an end to war and the cycle of revenge, especially in the Gulf region and the Middle East.
The call came during a prayer vigil held at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, where Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran Isfahan, spoke about the suffering caused by ongoing conflicts. He had recently left the Iranian capital amid rising tensions.
In his message, Cardinal Mathieu warned against the dangers of retaliation and revenge, saying they only deepen violence and sorrow. He called for dialogue, patience and meaningful gestures that can open the way to peace instead of war.
The vigil was led by Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, and brought together several Catholic groups working for peace. The gathering also remembered people affected by conflicts that often receive little global attention, including those in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.
Special focus was given to the Holy Land, where there was some relief after Israeli authorities allowed Holy Week celebrations in Jerusalem under strict security conditions. This followed earlier tensions when access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre had been denied to senior Church leaders.
Speaking at the event, Cardinal Reina expressed solidarity with people suffering in war zones, especially in Iran and the wider region. He said many innocent people continue to suffer, comparing their pain to the suffering of Christ.
He also warned that the world is moving in a dangerous direction, marked by growing violence and rearmament. According to him, history clearly shows that violence only leads to more violence, yet humanity continues to repeat the same mistakes.
Cardinal Reina concluded by reminding the faithful that true peace is not just the result of political decisions, but something deeper that must be rediscovered in faith and human compassion.