Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown is urging clergy, religious women and people of faith in the six counties of the diocese to pray Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for March.

In a statement released Monday, Bonnar echoes Pope Leo in a call for peace following weekend bombings in Iran by the U.S. and Israel, and retaliatory strikes by Iran in multiple countries in the Middle East where U.S. military bases are located.

As part of the “Apostleship of Prayer” recognized by Pope Pius IX in 1849, adopted by Pope Leo XIII in 1890, and renamed the “Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network” in 2017 by Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV continues the tradition of inviting the faithful throughout the world to pray for a particular intention every month.

The prayer intention for March states “For disarmament and peace. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.”

Bonnar said “Considering the tragic events unfolding in recent days in Iran and throughout the Middle East — not to mention the fears, uncertainties, devastating actions and consequences that are being felt by people of good will throughout the world, which have already have resulted in loss of life — this papal intention has a particular timeliness and gripping poignancy.”

He said he urges clergy, religious and all people of faith in the six counties of the

Diocese of Youngstown to pray frequently for Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for March.

“As families gather around the table each night and offer a prayer before dinner, I encourage the use of this prayer. At the same time, I ask that all our parishes say this prayer as part of the Universal Prayers of the Faithful at each Holy Mass.

“Prayer can move mountains and change hearts. May our collective voice of prayer uttered aloud or in silence, alone or with others, make a difference so that world leaders will choose peace over war and life over death. May we strive every day to be instruments of that peace to one another in word and deed,” Bonnar said in the statement.

POPE LEO’S WARNING

Pope Leo XIV warned Sunday that U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran risk plunging the Middle East into an “irreparable abyss,” urging leaders to halt a dangerous spiral of violence.

Speaking at the Angelus, the pontiff expressed “deep concern” over recent developments and called on nations to choose dialogue over war.

“Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” the pope said, according to Vatican News.

“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions,” he added, “I address to the parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”

The pope’s warning came after Israel and the U.S. launched a joint military operation against Iran on Saturday, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.” The attacks reportedly killed several senior leaders, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled the Islamic Republic for more than three decades.