Pope Francis on Tuesday invited believers of all faiths to set aside a minute to pray for peace, especially for Myanmar and the Holy Land.
In a tweet, the pontiff joined the call of the International Catholic Action for a “one minute for peace” prayer according to one’s own religious tradition.
“Let us pray in particular for the Holy Land and for Myanmar,” the pope posted on Twitter.
The annual initiative was celebrated for the first time in 2014 to pray for peace in the Holy Land.
“This year in the hearts of each and every one, there will also be a special attention to Myanmar,” said Maria Grazia Tebaldi, secretary general of the International Federation of Catholic Action, in an interview with Vatican News.
She said the appeal for prayer is addressed to all people anywhere they may find themselves.
On Tuesday, the United Nations estimated that 100,000 people in Myanmar’s Kayah state had been displaced by fighting that included “indiscriminate attacks by security forces” in civilian areas.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup on February 1, with daily protests in towns and cities and fighting in borderlands between the military and ethnic minority militias, some of which have only existed for a few weeks.
“This crisis could push people across international borders seeking safety, as already seen in other parts of the country,” the United Nations in Myanmar said in a statement.
It urged all parties to “urgently take the necessary measures and precautions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
