To the Creator of nature and humanity, of truth and beauty, we
pray.
Hear our voice, for it is the voice of the victims of all wars and
violence among individuals and nations.
Hear our voice, for it is the voice of all children who suffer when
people put their faith in weapons and war.
Hear our voice, when we beg you to instill into the hearts of all
human beings the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice and the
joy of fellowship.
Hear our voice, for we speak for the multitudes in every country and
in every period of history who do not want war and are ready to walk
the road of peace.
Hear our voice, and grant insight and strength so that we may always
respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to
justice, to need with sharing of self, to war with peace.
O God, hear our voice and grant unto the world your everlasting
peace. Amen.
--Prayer of Pope John Paul II at Hiroshima,
February 25, 1981
