World prayer for humanity calls for an end to the coronavirus
Millions of believers complied with the day of prayer and fasting that was celebrated this Thursday after the proposal made by the High Committee of Human Fraternity to ask God, independently of the personal confession of each one, for the end of the pandemic of the disease COVID-19 that is scourging the planet and that has already left hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of diagnosed cases throughout the world.
People of different faiths pleaded for the cessation of the health crisis that is ravaging the world and did so virtually, thus adhering to the call of the High Committee.
Pope Francis fully joined this initiative and supported it as a standard-bearer for Christianity. Already this Friday, during the mass in Santa Marta, Francis also prayed for the families, just in these difficult moments that are lived at present, remembering the International Day dedicated to them by the United Nations Organization (UNO). In his homily he stressed that "faith in Jesus leads to joy and freedom, while rigidity causes unrest and distress". "Today is the World Day of Families: let us pray for families so that the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of love, respect and freedom, may grow in families," said the Supreme Pontiff, as reported by Vatican News.
The High Committee of Human Fraternity sent a message to the whole world to make a "prayer for humanity" in the face of the complicated trance that is being experienced by the health crisis unleashed by the coronavirus, which has already left hundreds of thousands of dead and millions of affected people throughout the world. The appeal made to all those who "believe in God" and to "humanity in all parts of the world" urged them to beg God through prayer, each in his place and according to his religion or belief, so that the "Creator" may protect everyone and put an end to this scourge.
The High Committee thus issued an invitation to all people in every corner of the world to "turn to God through prayer and supplication, by fasting and works of mercy, each in his or her place and according to his or her religion, belief or doctrine, so that God may eliminate this pandemic, help us out of this affliction, inspire scientists to discover a medicine to end it, and save the world from the health, economic and human consequences of the spread of this dangerous pandemic.
May 14 was the date set for this prayer for humanity, which aims to collaborate in fulfilling the objectives of the document 'Human Brotherhood for Peace and Coexistence', sealed on February 4, 2019 in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Supreme Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces, and Ahmed al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, during the historic visit of Pope Francis to the Emirates, the first visit by a Pope to the lands of the Arabian Peninsula, during which a text of understanding between different religions and confessions was signed to work towards fraternal coexistence among all, regardless of the personal creed of each one.
The virtual prayer was initiated by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance of the United Arab Emirates, who thanked Pope Francis, as well as Al-Tayeb, for having created this forum to "pray all together as a family".
All religious leaders and people from all over the world were invited to participate in the day of prayer held this Thursday in a telematic way because of the current restrictions of social confinement and distance aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, in order to respond to this humanitarian call and to go to God to ask for the protection of humanity and help it overcome the current pandemic to restore the safety and health of all.
