Philippine bishops on April 7 called on dioceses nationwide to hold prayer vigils for peace on April 11, joining a global initiative announced by the pope as conflicts intensify and concern grows over what Church leaders describe as a “globalization of indifference.”
In a circular signed by Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), local churches were urged to take part in the worldwide day of prayer announced by the Holy Father during his Easter Urbi et Orbi message, with a central vigil set at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
“In a world increasingly marked by conflict and the ‘globalization of indifference,’ the Holy Father has invited the entire Church to unite in prayer, urging all to implore the gift of peace and to renew our commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and nonviolence,” Garcera said in the circular.
He said dioceses may organize prayer gatherings at any suitable time on April 11 to allow the faithful to participate in the global observance.
Suggested forms of prayer include Eucharistic adoration, the Holy Rosary, the celebration of the Holy Mass for peace, and other liturgical or devotional gatherings.
Garcera said the coordinated observance is meant to express solidarity with the pope and affirm the Church’s shared hope for peace.
“Such a collective act of prayer will not only express our solidarity with the Holy Father but will also witness to our shared hope that true peace, which begins in Christ, may prevail in our hearts and in the world,” he said.
He also asked that the call be widely shared across parishes, religious communities, and lay groups to encourage participation “in this important moment of ecclesial unity and intercession.”
