On the eve of the international 'One Minute for Peace' initiative on Thursday, Pope Francis urged Catholics to take part, saying there was "so much need for prayers for peace".
"There is so much need for prayers for peace, by Christians, Jews and Muslims," Francis told pilgrims at his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday.
"Tomorrow, at 13.00 (local time), the ' One Minute for Peace' will take place again in various countries," he said.
The initiative comes on the third anniversary of the historic meeting between Francis, late Israeli president Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas on 8 June 2014, the pontiff recalled.
During the landmark encounter, Francis, Peres and Abbas met in the Vatican Gardens and prayed together for peace.
