” “"The diocese of Rome heartily welcomes the invitation of its bishop, the Holy Father Benedict XVI, to all the believers of the world, to beg God for the precious gift of peace in this serious predicament in the Middle East. Therefore, as instructed by the Holy Father, on Sunday July 23rd all the churches of the diocese will celebrate a special day of prayer and penance". These are the words of card. Camillo Ruini, vicar general of the Pope for the diocese of Rome, in a letter sent today to the diocese, in the run-up to the special Day of prayer and penance, launched by Benedict XVI to pray for peace in the Middle East. "Specific intentions to such ends will be voiced by the faithful in their prayers", writes card. Ruini. Just like Rome, all Italian dioceses have welcomed the Pope’s invitation. In Bologna, the auxiliary bishop, mgr. Ernesto Vecchi, asked the priests to "add special intentions of universal prayer to their Sunday Mass": "I invite the parishes, the religious communities, the movements, the associations and all the congregations to also promote moments of prayer, giving priority to the Eucharistic Adoration and personal penance". The bishop of Novara, mgr. Renato Corti, and the archbishop of Loreto, mgr. Gianni Danzi, have sent a letter to the congregations of their dioceses, asking them to pray "for peace in all the parishes during Sunday Mass".” “
