” “”A special prayer" to the Lord "for peace among peoples": it was raised this morning by Benedict XVI during the homily for High Mass that he celebrated in the Sanctuary of "Meryem Ana Evi" (the House of Mary the Mother, also known as ‘the small house’) in Ephesus. As he spoke to the Catholics attending the ceremony (devotees, priests, nuns and bishops), the Pope stated that, as recalled by the Apostle Peter in the First lecture, "Christ made one single people of the two”, a statement referred to the relations between the Judeans and the Gentiles, but which, commented the Pontiff, "can also apply by analogy to the relations among the peoples and civilisations existing in the world”. Therefore, went on Benedict XVI, "comforted by God’s Word, from here, from Ephesus, a city blessed by the presence of the Most Holy Mary that we know is loved and worshipped also by the Muslims let’s raise to the Lord a special prayer for peace among peoples. From this strip of the Anatolian peninsula, a natural bridge between two continents, let’s invoke peace and reconciliation, especially for those who live in the land that we call Holy”, as well as "peace for the whole mankind!” “We all need he concluded this universal peace; of this peace, the Church is called to be the "sign and instrument”.” “
