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CRS Rice Bowl - A Lenten Call for Peace

March 9, 2026

(Photo credit: CRS Rice Bowl social media)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“Today we lift up our prayer for peace in the world, asking that nations renounce weapons and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy.” ~ Pope Leo XIV, Prayer Intention for March 2026

As bombs were falling in the Middle East, Pope Leo XIV lifted his hands and spirit in a worldwide prayer for peace. News of conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has stirred deep anxiety across the globe. Images of destruction, fear among civilians and the threat of further escalation remind us how fragile peace can be. During his Angelus in St. Peter’s Square on March 1, our Holy Father spoke with urgency and clarity. “I am following with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and in Iran during this tumultuous time.” He then spoke about the urgent need for dialogue and disarmament: “Stability and peace are not achieved through mutual threats, nor through the use of weapons, which sow destruction, suffering and death, but only through reasonable, sincere and responsible dialogue.” The Holy Father went on further, calling world leaders to halt “the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm.”

Pope Leoʻs prayer for peace calls us each to recognize the dignity of every human person: “Lord of Life, you shaped every human being in your image and likeness. We believe you created us for communion, not for war, for fraternity, not for destruction.” These words speak to a foundational truth of the Christian faith. Every person—no matter their nationality, religion or political identity—is created by God and loved by God. When we forget this, war becomes easier to “justify.”

The Pope’s month of March prayer intention for peace and disarmament also challenges the need for nations to develop more weapons and military power. Instead, he points toward another kind of strength. “True security does not come from control fueled by fear, but from trust, justice and solidarity among peoples.” This message resonates deeply at a time when the global arms race continues to expand while millions struggle for necessities such as food, shelter and healthcare.

And the Holy Father does not speak only to world leaders. He calls each of us to strive for peace first in our own hearts, then within our homes, communities and countries. For this reason, the Pope asks God to “disarm our hearts of hatred, resentment and indifference, so we may become instruments of reconciliation.” It is difficult to call for peace among nations if we allow anger, bitterness or indifference to grow within our own hearts.Many people today are struggling with their own battles of anxiety, loneliness, or division everywhere. The work of peace begins there as well.Through prayer, compassion and community, we can help bring healthy healing where there is destructive conflict and hope where there is despair.We can begin by making small choices: a willingness to listen, a word of kindness, a gesture of forgiveness and a commitment to understanding those who are different from us.

“Peace be with you” are the words spoken by angels and by Jesus himself. That same peace continues to move through the world today through the lives of those who choose reconciliation over revenge and compassion over fear. As Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9).  At a time when the world is focused on war in Middle East, the Catholic Relief Services-CRS Lenten Rice Bowl’s second week Story of Hope lifts-up from violence-torn Central America an example of healthy creative sharing—reminding us that hopeful peacemaking can begin within families and communities.

In the town of Janlay, Guatemala, many indigenous women are skilled weavers who create the beautiful, embroidered blouses known as “güipiles”.  Maribel is one of them. She is also the mother of a lively young daughter named Juana. When Juana was only four months old, Maribel’s husband had to travel far away to find work, leaving her to care for their child on her own. Seeking help, Maribel joined a CRS nutrition program that teaches families how to prepare healthy meals and care for their children’s well-being. Through the program she learned the importance of fruits, vegetables, eggs and nutritious grains instead of soda and processed foods. The changes brought new healthy strength to her family. Today Maribel shares what she has learned with others. With gratitude she says the program has helped her family grow healthier, and more peaceful—a small example of how healthy creative sharing can bring hopeful peace within this world.

In a time of conflict and uncertainty, Pope Leo XIV invites us to believe once again that peace is possible—and that each of us has a role to play in hopeful peacemaking. For more about Pope Leo XIV’s message on peace, visit www.humandevelopment.va. For more about CRS Rice Bowl and stories of hope around the world, please visit www.crsricebowl.org or www.officeforsocialministry.org.

Mahalo.