As you know, the Pope has asked that today be a day of prayer and penance for the cause of peace.

Here is a translation of today’s Angelus, courtesy of Teresea at the Papa Ratzinger Forum:

Dear brothers and sisters,

As announced last Thursday, in view of the aggravating situation in the Middle East, I have called for today a special day of prayer and penitence, inviting ministers, the faithful and all believers to implore God for the gift of peace.

I renew with force my appeal to all parties to the conflict to declare a ceasefire, allow humanitarian aid to be done, and with the support of the international community, to seek ways to start negotiations.

I take the occasion to re-state the right of the Lebanese to the integrity and sovereignty of their nation, the right of the Israelis to live in peace in their own State, and the right of the Palestinians to have a free and sovereign homeland.

I feel particularly close to the helpless civilian populations, unjustly struck by a conflict in which they are simply victims- whether those from Galilee who are forced to flee to asylum, or the great majority of Lebanese who once more are seeing the destruction of their land and have had to abandon everything and look for refuge elsewhere.

I raise a heartfelt prayer to God that the aspiration to peace of the great majority of these populations may be realized as soon as possible, thanks to the unified commitment of responsible authorities.

I also renew my appeal to all chartiable organizations that they may bring to the affected populations the concrete expression of our common solidarity.

Yesterday we celebrated the liturgical commemoration of Saint Mary Magdalene, disciple of the Lord, who occupies a prominent role in the Gospels. St. Luke lists her among the women who followed Jesus after having been "cured of evil spirits and infirmity," stating that from her "seven demons were expelled." (Lk 8,2).

The Magdalene would be present under the Cross, together with the Mother of Jesus and other women. It would be she who would discover, on the morning of the first day after the Sabbath, the empty sepulchre, beside which she would remain weeping until the resurrected Jesus appeared (cfr Jn 20,11).

The story of Mary of Magdala recalls to us a fundamental truth: a disciple of Christ is whoever, in the human experience of weakness, has the humility to ask for help, who is helped by Him to heal, and who is then led to follow Him closely, becoming a witness to the power of His merciful love, which is stronger than sin or death.

To the power of divine love, I entrust all humanity, while I invite everyone to pray that the beloved peoples of the Middle East may be capable of abandoning the way of armed conflict and to construct, with bold dialog, a just and lasting peace. Mary, Queen of peace, pray for us!

After the Angelus, he said in English:

To the English-speaking people here today, especially the group of Missionary Sisters of Mary from India, I extend cordial greetings.

In this beautiful region we are able to admire the splendour of God’s creation and to give thanks for his many gifts to us. Let us remember in our prayers those less fortunate, especially those who are suffering at this time as a result of the tragic conflicts in the Middle East.

I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace upon all of you, and upon your families and loved ones at home