Catholics worldwide are asked to join in prayer and fasting this weekend, as the violence in the Middle East—in particular, in Syria—continues to escalate.

In our country, the president and members of Congress are discussing some military action against Syria, because of the use of chemical agents against innocent civilian population.

Pope Francis has urged countries “to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution in Syria.” The US Catholic bishops also condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria, declaring these "indiscriminate weapons have no place in the arsenals of the family of nations." They noted that more than 100,000 Syrians have lost their lives, more than 2 million have fled the country as refugees, and more than 4 million within Syria have been driven from their homes by the ongoing conflict.” In a letter to Congress, the bishops urge them to focus “on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Syria and on saving lives by ending the conflict, not fueling it” with military action.

The US bishops’ letter to President Obama and to the members of Congress may be accessed on the USCCB website (USCCB.org).

Des Moines Bishop Richard Pates is chair of the US Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. Bishop Pates invites us to join him for night prayer service this Saturday, Sept. 7, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Ambrose Cathedral, and through a Novena for Peace that begins Saturday and concludes on Sunday, Sept. 15. On September 15, all are invited to an ecumenical prayer service at St. Ambrose, 3:00 pm. More information on the prayer services and the novena for peace may be accessed on the diocesan website (dmdiocese.org).