Pope’s prayer at birthplace of Abraham, father of Christians, Jews, Muslims

Here is the prayer of the religious leaders at an interreligious meeting led by Pope Francis on March 6 in Ur, the birthplace of Abraham.

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Almighty God, our Creator, you love our human family and every work of your hands: As children of Abraham, Jews, Christians and Muslims, together with other believers and all persons of good will, we thank you for having given us Abraham, a distinguished son of this noble  and beloved country, to be our common father in faith. 

We thank you for his example as a man of faith, who obeyed you completely, left behind his family, his tribe and his native land, and set out for a land that he knew not.

We thank you too, for the example of courage, resilience, strength of spirit, generosity and hospitality set for us by our common father in faith. 

We thank you in a special way for his heroic faith, shown by his readiness even to sacrifice his son in obedience to your command. We know that this was an extreme test, yet one from which he emerged victorious, since he trusted unreservedly in you, who are merciful and always offer the  possibility of beginning anew. 

We thank you because, in blessing our father Abraham, you made him a blessing for all peoples. 

We ask you, the God of our father Abraham and our God, to grant us a strong faith, a faith that abounds in good works, a faith that opens our hearts to you and to all our brothers and sisters;  and a boundless hope capable of discerning in every situation your fidelity to your promises. 

Make each of us a witness of your loving care for all, particularly refugees and the displaced, widows and orphans, the poor and the infirm. 

Open our hearts to mutual forgiveness and in this way make us instruments of reconciliation, builders of a more just and fraternal society. 

Welcome into your abode of peace and light all those who have died, particularly the victims  of violence and war. 

Assist the authorities in the effort to seek and find the victims of kidnapping and in a special way to protect women and children. 

Help us to care for the earth, our common home, which in your goodness and generosity you have given to all of us. 

Guide our hands in the work of rebuilding this country, and grant us the strength needed to  help those forced to leave behind their homes and lands, enabling them to return in security and  dignity, and to embark upon a new, serene and prosperous life. Amen. 

[Article updated after publication]