Last Updated: Wednesday - 01/05/2011

Pope calls for rosary for peace

VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul asked people around the world to pray the rosary daily to help protect humanity from the "evil scourge" of terrorism.

In the wake of deadly attacks in the United States, the pope said the Church wants to make a prophetic call for world peace - a peace that involves justice but that is motivated by moderation and love.

"I ask everyone - individuals, families, communities - to recite the rosary, if possible every day, for the cause of peace, so that the world will be preserved from the evil scourge of terrorism," he said at the Vatican Sept. 30.

The pope said the suicide hijackings Sept. 11 marked a "dark day in the history of humanity."

Jews, Christians and Muslims all worship the same God and thus have a common vocation of peace and unity, he said.

"May God grant that the Church's faithful be in the front lines in searching for justice, in banishing violence and in working for peace," he said.

He said a prayer to Mary, asking that "hatred and death never have the last word."

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