Pope Calls People of All Faiths to a Day of Prayer on May 14
(Worthy News) – The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has called on believers of all religions to “unite together spiritually” and pray on May 14 that God would “help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic.” However, many evangelical leaders warn about ecumenical movements laying aside essential doctrines of the faith for the sake of unity and affirm this is the apostasy of which the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2.
Vatican News reports that the pope called for the May 14 day of prayer after the idea was suggested to him by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity (HCHF), a group to which he belongs.
The HCHF is described on its website as comprising “a diverse set of international religious leaders, educational scholars and cultural leaders who…are dedicated to sharing [a] message of mutual understanding and peace.” The pope and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayyeb are notable members of this fraternity.
In a statement this month, the pope said the “Prayer for Humanity” on May 14 will be a time for believers of all faiths “to pray, fast and do works of charity.” Explaining his call, the pope added: “Prayer is our greatest weapon against the virus.”
Evangelical critics of such ecumenical efforts as this day of prayer assert they do not align with the Biblical mandate in Colossians 3: “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
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