“Enough with the war, with atrocious and senseless violence! Enough with the hatred that does nothing but feed hatred and prevents you from seeing other paths! Enough with the logic of revenge at any cost for the wrongs suffered! Enough with the growing inhumanity that makes the pain and tears of children, the elderly, the disabled, and those who cannot defend themselves deaf and tears,” she said.
Leading up to the fifth, and final mystery, the Synod members reached the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter, where, on the ground, an arrangement of votive candles spelled out the word “pax,” or peace.
The meditation on the fifth mystery focused on the pope’s encyclical Laudato sì, and the importance of safeguarding creation.
“Let us pray this mystery, giving thanks for the wonder of creation and asking, through the intercession of Mary, that we assume the commitment to care for our common home, protect nature, create more just relationships, and be closer to the poor and those who suffer to make love grow among us in the image of Trinitarian love and to develop a synodal Church for everyone, everyone, everyone,” said Mauricio Lopez, a member of the commission that prepared the Synod on Synodality and co-founder of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM).
The event closed with the singing of the ancient Marian anthem, ”Sub tuum praesidium” (“Beneath thy protection).
On Oct. 27 the Universal Church joins Pope Francis in his call for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Holy Land. There will be a prayer vigil held in St. Peter’s Square that will commence at 6 p.m., CET.
Matthew Santucci has recently started in EWTN’s Vatican bureau. He grew up in Connecticut and has been living in Rome since 2020. He has a B.A. in History from Fordham and an M.A. in International Relations from Luiss Guido Carli.