Pope Francis Calls for Fasting and Prayer on October 7

Vatican City : Pope Francis has called on people worldwide to observe a day of prayer and fasting on October 7, marking the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. In a post on X, the Pope urged, “On October 7, I ask everyone to pray for peace in the world and take part in a day of fasting. Pray together.”

This appeal comes as tensions in the Middle East have escalated. On the night of October 1, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released footage showing hundreds of Iranian missiles raining down on Jerusalem. The IDF stated on X, “Iranian missiles are raining down on the city of Jerusalem, a holy site for Muslims, Christians, and Jews. This is the target of the Iranian regime: everyone.”