During the ecumenical prayer that has just ended in the chapel of the World Council of Churches, prayers were offered up for Christian unity, peace and the reception of migrants, in the presence of Pope Francis. “Make us painfully aware of our lack of confidence to be united”, a prayer said. “Give us the honesty to acknowledge with courage our hidden indifference, distrust and enmity towards each other. Grant that all of us may be able to meet each other in You, so that Your prayer for Christian unity may always rise from our souls and lips”. The second prayer was for peace. “Lord Jesus Christ, You are the way to peace. Come into our lives, to our broken lands, and bring Your love that can heal everything. Help us to be willing to bow before You in true repentance, and to bow before each other in true forgiveness. Melt our hardened hearts by the fire of your Holy Spirit, destroy the pride and prejudice that separate us, and make us instruments of love, peace, unity, and harmony among people, regardless of their race, colour, and creed.
Finally, a moving prayer for migrants. “Lord Jesus, You have experienced as a child the same trials faced by immigrants and refugees, and call us today to welcome the members of God’s family who come to our homelands to flee oppression, poverty, persecution, violence, and war. But we are full of fear, doubt and even suspicion. We build barriers in our hearts and minds. Lord Jesus, help us, by Your grace, to banish fear from our hearts, so that we can embrace each of Your children as our brothers and sisters, and welcome migrants and refugees with joy and generosity, offering them our help, and meeting their needs”.