French bishops call for prayer, fasting and solidarity.
In a press release dated March 17, 2026, the presidency of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) recalls that the sustainable path to peace can never pass through war and calls for continued efforts in favor of dialogue and fraternity between peoples.
For several weeks now, war has once again engulfed the Middle East. As the Holy Father reminded us, humanity is being dragged toward "an irreparable abyss." In the din of weapons that sow destruction, pain, and death, it is, as always, the most vulnerable who suffer the heaviest consequences.
Faced with this alarming situation, we affirm that the lasting path to peace lies only through the boldness of dialogue, the courage of diplomacy and respect for international law.
We assure the peoples of the Middle East of our fraternal closeness and concrete solidarity. We remain in regular contact with the patriarchs and various leaders of the Christian communities in the countries concerned, as well as with the authorities of the French State and the diplomatic services of the Holy See , striving to support the most impoverished populations, thanks to the assistance of the Œuvre d'Orient.notably.
To the Catholics of France, we propose, during this Lenten season , to pray and fast in a special way for peace and to take concrete steps of solidarity, by responding to requests for donations or by showing support, in one way or another, to the communities of the Middle East .
May the Spirit of God enlighten consciences and may the good of peoples who aspire to a peaceful coexistence founded on justice be promoted!
+ Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline,
Archbishop of Marseille, President of the Conference of Bishops of France
+ Archbishop Vincent Jordy of Tours, Vice-President of the Conference of Bishops of France
+ Bishop Benoît Bertrand
of Pontoise, Vice-President of the Conference of Bishops of France
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