2013-09-04 L’Osservatore Romano - To the ears of God, prayers are louder than war drums. Prelates of the Holy Land expressed their conviction of this, as war looms promising only more blood and destruction for Syria and the Middle East. Thus, the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land is joining the special day of prayer and fasting, announced by Pope Francis for 7 September, with the wish that “every ordinary in his diocese, eparchy or exarchate, every pastor in his parish and with all his parishioners may organize this day as they see fit”. May, with deep conviction, “the chorus of prayers from our lips drown out the cacophony from the drums of war”. Gregorios III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch for Greek-Melkites, spoke along the same lines. For him, “the day of prayer announced by the Pope is an extraordinary gesture of peace that confirms Francis' love for this martyred land”. The response from Catholic laity around the world is unanimous. Italian Catholic Action, like Catholic Action everywhere, shares “the cry for peace”, which Pope Francis expressed at the Angelus on Sunday, renewing their “commitment to being one link in the great chain of men and women of hope, dialogue, and solidarity, who consider peace a precious gift that can overcome all barriers and which must always be fostered and safeguarded”. Communion and Liberation, the Community of Sant'Egidio and the Focolare Movement are planning to participate as well.