India: Latin Bishops Call for Day of Prayer, Rosary and Fasting for Peace in Middle East

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has called on the Latin Church in India to observe Sunday, March 8, 2026, as a Day of Prayer for Peace, and to recite the Holy Rosary daily from March 8 to 14 for peace in the war-affected Middle East. The bishops have also designated Friday, March 13, as a day of fasting and prayer.

In an official circular dated March 3, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI and Archbishop of Goa and Daman, urged the faithful to unite in prayer amid escalating violence in the region, particularly following recent hostilities involving Iran and neighbouring countries.

“In these days marked by growing unrest and violence in the Middle East… I earnestly invite the entire Latin Church in India to unite in prayer and supplication for peace,” the Cardinal stated.

He said the suffering caused by war and instability affects the entire human family and noted that many Indians live and work in Middle Eastern countries. “Many of them support their families from afar and contribute generously both to the life of the Church and to our nation. In this hour of uncertainty, we commend them in a special way to the Lord’s protection, praying for their safety, security and well-being,” he said.

The circular requests that special prayers for peace in the Middle East be offered during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on March 8. Parishes are encouraged to include intentions in the Prayer of the Faithful for the cessation of hostilities, the protection of innocent lives, and wisdom and restraint among world leaders.

Cardinal Ferrão also invited the faithful to pray the Holy Rosary each day from March 8 to 14, invoking the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, for reconciliation and dialogue. In addition, he encouraged observing March 13 as a day of fasting and prayer, offering personal sacrifices for peace and for those affected by violence.

“May our collective prayer, penance and solidarity become a humble yet fervent plea before Almighty God, that hearts may be converted, hostilities may cease and peace may prevail,” the Cardinal said.

As of early March, tensions in the Middle East have intensified, with reports of military strikes and heightened security alerts in several countries, including Iran, Israel, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.