Pope Francis wants theworld to put aside their differences and come together. On Sunday, 1^stSeptember, while condemning the use of chemical weapons, the leader of theCatholic Church called for a negotiated settlement to the civil war in Syria,and announced that he would lead a worldwide day of fasting and prayer forpeace there on September 7.

Pope Francis abandoned thetraditional religious theme of the weekly papal appearance to crowds in St.Peter's Square and instead spoke entirely, and with anguish, about Syria.

"My heart is deeplywounded by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments"on the horizon, Pope Francis said, in an apparent reference to the U.S. andFrance considering a military strike to punish the Syrian regime for a chemicalweapons attack.

Pope Francis reiteratedprevious appeals for all sides in the civil war to put down their arms and"listen to the voice of their conscience and with courage take up the wayof negotiations."

The deteriorating drama ofSyria inspired Pope Francis to set aside September 7 as a day of fasting andprayer for Syria. Pope Francis invited Catholics, other Christians, those ofother faiths and non-believers who are "men of good will" to join himthat evening in St. Peter's Square to invoke the "gift" of peace forSyria, the rest of the Middle East and worldwide where there is conflict. "Theworld needs to see gestures of peace and hear words of hope and of peace,"Pope Francis said. He said the prayer vigil in the square will last from 7 p.m.until midnight.