The prayer for peace is held in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

2 Corinthians 6,1-10

As his fellow-workers, we urge you not to let your acceptance of his grace come to nothing. As he said, 'At the time of my favour I have answered you; on the day of salvation I have helped you'; well, now is the real time of favour, now the day of salvation is here. We avoid putting obstacles in anyone's way, so that no blame may attach to our work of service; but in everything we prove ourselves authentic servants of God; by resolute perseverance in times of hardships, difficulties and distress; when we are flogged or sent to prison or mobbed; labouring, sleepless, starving; in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness; in the Holy Spirit, in a love free of affectation; in the word of truth and in the power of God; by using the weapons of uprightness for attack and for defence: in times of honour or disgrace, blame or praise; taken for impostors and yet we are genuine; unknown and yet we are acknowledged; dying, and yet here we are, alive; scourged but not executed; in pain yet always full of joy; poor and yet making many people rich; having nothing, and yet owning everything.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Paul has faced innumerable difficulties in order not to fail his apostolic ministry: beatings, imprisonment, riots, labours, sleepless nights, fasting. ...None of them has moved him away from the mission of preaching the Gospel. Filled with feelings of purity, wisdom, patience, kindness, holiness, sincere love, he has not ceased to preach the Gospel and to serve the community wherever they were. The Word which the Lord had entrusted to him was his strength, his support. In this horizon, all the disciples of Jesus, poor of external goods, have an inner wealth that, while they communicate it, sustains them; even more, in communicating it they become stronger and more compassionate. Paul reminds it to the Christians in Corinth and writes to them: "We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you." But the width of the heart of the apostle is matched by the narrowness of that of their hearts. And, with the love of a father ("I speak as to children"), he tells them, "Open wide your hearts also." It is the condition for receiving the Gospel.