Invites prayer for a just peace and safe return of deployed U.S. Military personnel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA (pictured at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on Dec. 23, 2019), today issued the following message to the faithful on the escalation of tensions in the Middle East:

“Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“Disturbing news continues to arrive from the Middle East. Having just returned from there, I know that those deployed recognize the danger and continue to fulfill the demands of their mission for the protection of the innocent and the pursuit of those who cause harm.

“Throughout the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and, especially, here at the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center we continue to pray for a just peace. In a special way those whose loved ones are currently deployed hold a special place in these prayers.

“Together let us invoke the Prince of Peace whose birth in Bethlehem we have just commemorated and beg protection and a safe return for all of those in harm’s way.

“We can welcome Pope Francis’ invitation at the Angelus yesterday: ‘in many parts of the world there is news of a terrible sense of tension. War only brings death and destruction. I call upon all sides to keep burning the flame of dialogue and self-control and to renounce the shadow of enmity.’ (Pope Francis, Post-Angelus, 5.I.20.)

Join me in praying that 2020 might be a year for peace.”

+Timothy P. Broglio

The AMS was established as an independent archdiocese by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1985 as the only Catholic jurisdiction responsible for endorsing and granting faculties for priests to serve as chaplains in the U.S. military and VA Medical Centers. AMS-endorsed priests serve at more than 220 U.S. military installations in 29 countries, making the AMS the nation’s only global archdiocese. AMS-endorsed chaplains also serve at 153 VA Medical Centers throughout the U.S. The AMS service population also includes American Catholic civilians working for the federal government in 134 countries, but currently, due to limited resources, the AMS cannot adequately serve this population. Worldwide, an estimated 1.8 million Catholics depend on the AMS to meet their spiritual and sacramental needs. For more information on the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, visit milarch.org, the only official website for Catholics in the U.S. Military. For information on the Cause of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, M.M., visit capodannoguild.org.