The Catholic Church in Pakistan organized a nationwide day of prayer on Saturday, April 11, 2026, to coincide with high-level diplomatic peace talks between the United States and Iran held in Islamabad (the capital city of Pakistan).
The initiative followed an appeal from Pope Leo XIV during his Urbi et Orbi message for universal prayer to end global conflicts.
Archbishop Joseph Arshad led dozens of religious sisters and laity in a prayer service at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Rawalpindi (a twin city of Islamabad in northern Pakistan). The Archbishop urged diplomatic leaders to recognize a shared humanity beyond political borders. Participants took part in a "procession of lights," placing candles around a central model of a dove.
In the Diocese of Hyderabad, southern Pakistan, Bishop Samson Shukardin presided over a Holy Hour at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. The service included a litany for world leaders and the recitation of the Prayer of Peace of St. Francis of Assisi.
These prayers were sustained through the following day, Divine Mercy Sunday, where parishes across the diocese integrated specific petitions for regional reconciliation into their liturgies.
The Catholic family of Mishal Maria, associated with the Focolare Movement, an international organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood organized a Holy Hour within their home and invited their neighbours to join the prayer session as a communal witness for peace and localized interfaith friendship.
In Gujranwala in Punjab province, Fr. Francis Gulzar led an adoration and holy hour with hundreds of youth from the parish, where they prayed and lit candles for peace.
Simultaneously, in Sialkot, northeastern Pakistan, Fr. Ashraf Gill led a congregation at St. James Catholic Church. During the session, Fr. Bernard Emmanuel, National Director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), coordinated efforts to highlight the Church's role in social advocacy.
Following the service, the youth promised to serve as ambassadors of peace to promote the message of Christ in their communities.
In Karachi (Pakistan’s largest city and main port in southern Pakistan), Kashif Anthony, CCJP Diocesan Coordinator, organized a silent vigil for victims of war. The youth in attendance took a collective pledge to promote religious harmony. The community further committed to observing daily Holy Hours during these days of tension to support a peaceful diplomatic resolution.
Fr. Cecil Paul, OMI, Rector of the Oblate Juniorate in Pakistan, integrated the peace call into the training of future Church leaders. He led a Eucharistic Adoration and holy hour with his community.
Additionally, the Daughters of St. Paul in Lahore distributed prayer resources through media platforms and recited the "Song of Love" from the New Testament.
Sr. Genevieve Ramlal of the Pakistan Catholic Woman Organization led a session for women to establish "Peace Circles" in their neighborhoods to monitor and support families in distress.
The nationwide effort, held at the conclusion of the Easter Octave, utilized Eucharistic Adoration and communal prayers to support the diplomatic process. As the sessions in Islamabad concluded, the Church in Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to reconciliation in the region.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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