Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - Vietnamese Catholics responded en masse to Card Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man's appeal to join last Saturday Francis Pope and fellow Catholics around the world for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria.
On this occasion, a variety of vigils and prayers "for the conflict areas" were organised in Ho Chi Minh City's 200 parishes, which together have almost 700,000 members.
On the archbishop's recommendation, they held "an hour of Eucharistic Adoration and prayer for peace" between 7 to 8 pm.
On the eve of the day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria, the Middle East and the world, Pope Francis had called on Christians, members of other religions and people of good will to be an instrument of reconciliation and peace.
All over the world, "people of good will filled squares", like Saint Peter's, for peace, Christians and Muslims alike.
"The Vietnamese know about long wars," said Joseph Hung, one of the many Caritas volunteers in Ho Chi Minh City. For this reason, they appreciate peace even more. "We do not want war to happen to another country," he added.
For the day of prayer, Caritas Saigon also got involved. "We prayed together, in a spirit of penance, to ask God's blessing and peace for Syria and the people of that country," said Sister Lan.
"We turned to the Virgin Mary for peace in the Middle East and Syria," she said as she called for patience, daily prayer, and trust "in God's providence," adding that we should "never forget to pray to Our Lady to stop crimes and terrorism."
In his message to the faithful, the cardinal of Saigon stressed the importance of "dialogue" in order for justice to be done for the benefit of all.
He also called for "people of good" to work together "to build a culture of life and a civilisation of love ", not only in Vietnam but also around the world.
Injustice in society must be reduced and the traces of those who promote a "culture of death" must be erased.