Catholic communities from Rome to Bangkok joined a global call for peace after Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to pray for disarmament.
Amid the closure of airspaces and a deepening crisis in West Asia entering its second week, the Pope released his prayer intention for March, inviting Catholics around the world to unite in prayer for “disarmament and peace.”
He warned that “the nuclear threat may never again dictate the future of humanity.”
A call echoed across the Church
The Pope’s appeal became the spiritual anchor for prayer initiatives in different parts of the world, as Catholic communities gathered to pray for peace and the end of violence.
In solidarity with the papal appeal, the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) mobilized women religious across the globe. Sr. Roxanne Schares, SSND, executive secretary of the UISG, issued a statement on March 4.
“As women religious who are present in the most fragile contexts of society and often live close to those who suffer, we cannot remain silent in the face of a spiral of destruction that undermines human dignity and jeopardizes the future of new generations,” Sr. Schares said.
Prayer in Bangkok
Responding to the global call, the Archdiocese of Bangkok held a Holy Hour for peace on the evening of Friday, March 6, at St. John the Apostle Church.
Parishioners gathered inside the church while others joined through a national livestream organized by Catholic Social Communication Thailand.
Presiding over the prayer service, Fr. John Baptist Somkiat Trinikorn invited the faithful to reflect on peace beyond the language of power and war.
“When people speak about war, they usually speak about power, weapons, victory, or defeat,” Fr. Somkiat reflected during his meditation.
“But tonight, we gather for a very different purpose. We kneel before the Eucharist… not to analyze war, but to return to the deepest root of the human heart—the true foundation of peace,” the priest added.
Candles for peace
During the Holy Hour, the faithful participated in a symbolic “Liturgy of Light.” One by one, members of the congregation approached the altar and placed candles before the Eucharist.
Each candle represented a personal prayer for peace and solidarity with people suffering in areas affected by war and violence.
The candle-lit church became the setting for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. As the prayer echoed through the church, the faithful repeated the words: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
Fr. Somkiat said the gesture reflected a deeper response to fear and conflict.
“War often begins with fear: fear of loss, fear of enemies, fear of the future,” he said. “When human beings are afraid, they build walls. But tonight, as we gaze upon the Eucharist, we contemplate the love of Christ who gave His Body and Blood for the salvation of the world.”
A quiet witness
While global attention remains focused on military developments and geopolitical tensions, Church leaders say prayer remains a vital witness for peace.
Fr. Somkiat concluded the gathering by reminding the faithful that even small acts of prayer can have meaning in times of crisis.
“Our prayer may appear small in the eyes of the world. But in the eyes of God, the humble act of Christians kneeling in prayer—and the simple light of these candles—has the power to change hearts and history.”
As the prayer ended, dozens of candles flickered before the Eucharist inside the dimly lit church, each flame offered as a prayer for peace.
