POPE Francis has prayed for lasting peace and harmony in Ireland to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
The pontiff included the offering during Monday’s Regina Coeli Queen of Heaven prayer at St Peter’s Bascilica in Rome.
News of Pope Francis's prayer for peace was conveyed by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All Ireland.
The Archbishop of Armagh said the Holy Father had shown great interest in the peace process and is "always anxious to be kept up-to-date with developments here".
"I am confident that his prayerful thoughts today will be welcomed by all people of goodwill," he said.
Archbishop Martin recalled the pope's visit to Dublin in 2018 when he encouraged perseverance in the work of peace and reconciliation.
"He acknowledged on that occasion the huge efforts that had been made to reach the Agreement and to find a peaceful settlement to end the conflict here which he said had caused such ‘untold pain’ to everyone," he said.
"He has often spoken about the importance of reconciliation in the world and about being willing to break down barriers by crossing the road 'to the other side' in the spirit of the Good Samaritan."
The Catholic primate said that in Pope Francis's Easter Sunday Urbi et Orbi message ‘to the city and to the world’, he encouraged everyone to pursue the paths of peace and fraternity, as well as drawing attention to "the awful impact of war and violence in so many troubled parts of the world today".
"I am always struck by the way that Pope Francis draws out the horrific consequences of conflict, especially on families, children, and communities, and how violence drives displacement of peoples, forced migration, social and economic hardship and humanitarian crises," Archbishop Martin said.
"As we mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement today, Pope Francis would want us to redouble our efforts at finding solutions to our ongoing problems and to work earnestly at restoring relationships here in order to bring deeper healing and reconciliation on this island, and between these islands.
"May God bless Pope Francis and give him health and strength to continue his mission of peace in the world."
