This was Pope Francis’ prayer request this morning to a group of Carmelite nuns and Sisters of the Rosary, who had arrived in Rome from Bethlehem and the Middle East for the canonization of the first two Palestinian saints of the modern era.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - An end to “this interminable” conflict in the Holy Land and the persecution of Christians. This was Pope Francis’ prayer request this morning to a group of Carmelite nuns and Sisters of the Rosary, who had arrived in Rome from Bethlehem and the Middle East for the canonization of saints Mariam of Crucified Jesus and Alfonsine-Danil Ghattas.

In thanking the nuns for travelling from the Middle East for the event, the Pope asked them to "pray  to the two new saints for peace in your land, for an end this interminable war and that there may be peace between peoples. And pray for persecuted Christians, driven from homes, from lands and also the ‘persecution with white gloves – persecution and ‘white terrorism’ – also ‘white gloved terrorism’.”  “It is veiled, but it happens!”! "

Francis, who prayed the Hail Mary together with the nuns for peace in the Holy Land, has also joked about the enthusiasm of the religious. "I am very happy for this pilgrimage by the sisters for the canonization of the new saints. The President of the State of Palestine told me that he had left Jordan on a plane full of nuns! Poor pilot ... Thanks a lot! ".

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