In these days of global unrest and deepening conflict, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement pause to pray — and to invite all God’s people to pray with us — for peace in our world.
As Atonement Franciscans, our vocation is At‑One‑Ment: the lifelong work of reconciliation with God, with one another, and with all creation. In moments marked by fear, division, and violence, this call becomes not optional, but urgent. Peace is not an abstract ideal. It is a spiritual responsibility.
This year, as we mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, we remember a man who lived amid conflict and turmoil yet chose a different way. He taught us that peace begins not with power or force, but with conversion of heart and trust in reconciliation, even when it seems most fragile.
The Franciscan tradition does not deny the reality of suffering or injustice. We do not turn away from the pain of those caught in conflict, nor from the fear that grips communities and nations alike. But neither do we accept violence as inevitable. Prayer is not an escape from the world’s wounds; it is a way of standing within them with hope, courage, and faith.
At this moment, we ask especially for prayer — prayer for those who suffer, for leaders entrusted with grave responsibilities, for communities torn by fear and violence, and for ourselves, that our hearts not harden or grow indifferent. In a world that so often speaks the language of force, prayer teaches us the language of mercy. In a culture shaped by division, prayer forms us for encounter and reconciliation.
Saint Francis greeted the world with the words, “May the Lord give you peace.” This was not a polite wish, but a demanding way of life. It required humility, restraint, and the courage to believe that love is stronger than fear. That same challenge stands before us today.
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement invite our community, our partners in ministry, and all who share a longing for peace to join us in prayer. May God draw us toward At‑One‑Ment — within ourselves, among nations, and across every boundary that divides us.
May the peace of Christ, which the world cannot give, take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives.
Fr. Emil Tomaskovic, SA
Minister General
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement