Pope's Prayer at Ground Zero

From his trip in April, 2008:

O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.
We ask you in your goodness to give eternal light
and peace to all who died here
- the heroic first responders: our firefighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy simply because their work
or service brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion to bring healing to those who,
because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope.
We are mindful as well of those who suffered death, injury,
and loss on the same day at the Pentagon and
in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs as our prayer
embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the Earth.
Turn to your way of love those whose hearts
and minds are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding, overwhelmed by
the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.

Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly
for a world where true peace
and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.


For my thoughts about 9/11, you can take a look here.