(OSV News) — Canada’s Catholic bishops are reminding faithful of “the urgent need to pray for peace” as tensions in the Middle East rise following an exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran June 13.
Israel launched overnight strikes across Iran as part of Operation Rising Lion, targeting nuclear and military sites and personnel.
Israeli officials said the strikes were preemptive, citing rapid advances in Iran’s nuclear weapons development and that nation’s repeated threats to eliminate Israel.
In recent weeks, the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency had warned that Iran had increased its enriched uranium production. On June 12, the IAEA condemned Iran for violating its non-proliferation obligations — the first time in close to two decades — and passed a resolution as such.
Israel’s strikes killed at least three Iranian military commanders, with officials in Tehran claiming six scientists were also slain.
Hours later, Iran — which claimed the strikes had also killed civilians — retaliated with ballistic missile attacks on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Israeli emergency officials have so far reported at least 34 injured, a number that could increase.
The conflict has prompted fears of a wider regional war, with the United Nations Security Council meeting June 13 and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urging “all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation.”
“I reiterate that any military action that jeopardizes the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond,” he said.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a June 13 press release in English and French, saying, “During this month — dedicated in the Latin Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus — we have a unique opportunity to seek the Lord’s mercy, healing, and peace for our divided world.
“Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus focuses our attention on the Lord’s inexhaustible love for humanity, and His desire that all be saved,” said the bishops. “By praying to the Sacred Heart, we turn to the divine source from which all authentic reconciliation springs, and open the channels for it to flow forth in our lives.”
They noted that Eastern Catholics focus in June on the Apostles Peter and Paul, with their liturgical feast on June 29, and said, “Remembering their witness, which began in Jerusalem and spread forth ‘into all the earth,’ as the Byzantine liturgy puts it, the faithful beg them ‘to intercede with the Master of all to grant peace to the world and to our souls great mercy.'”
The bishops asked parishes, families, consecrated and apostolic life communities, ecclesial movements and associations, and individuals to pray and to work for peace through intentions in their daily prayers, at Eucharistic adoration, and in petitions at daily and Sunday Masses.
Daily prayers and novenas to the Sacred Heart, along with attending Mass on the June 27 solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, were also recommended.
In addition, the bishops encouraged Eastern Catholics to offer their fasting and abstinence this month (the Apostles’ Fast), for peace in the Middle East “in the sacrificial spirit of St. Peter and St. Paul.”
The bishops called for corporal works of mercy within one’s local community, along with “donating to reliable charities working in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East.”
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.
