For much of this week in Krakow at the Catholic Church's World Youth Day, Pope Francis has been concerned about the concept of violence in the modern world.
From the killing on Tuesday of French priest, Jacques Hamel, through to his visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp yesterday, the Pope has had reason to speak of man’s unending violence on his fellow man.
Last night, when he visited the Church of St. Francis, which houses the memory of two Polish Franciscan martyrs, Zbigniew Strzalkowski e Michal Tomaszek, killed by the "Sendero Luminoso" movement in Peru in 1991, the Pope focussed specifically on contemporary "terrorist" violence.
In a powerful and highly unusual prayer, he said: “We come to You (Oh Lord) today to ask You to keep in peace the world and its people, to keep far away from it the devastating wave of terrorism...we pray to You also for all those who have died as victims of brutal terrorist attacks. Grant them their eternal reward.
“O Jesus, Prince of Peace, we pray to You for the ones who have been wounded in these acts of inhuman violence: children and young people, old people and innocent people accidentally involved in evil. Heal their bodies and hearts; console them with Your strength and, at the same time, take away any hatred and a desire for revenge.
“Holy Spirit Consoler, visit the families of the victims of terrorism, families that suffer through no fault of their own. Wrap them in the mantle of Your divine mercy. Make them find again in You and in themselves the strength and courage to continue to be brothers and sisters for others, above all for immigrants, giving witness to Your love by their lives.
“Touch the hearts of terrorists so that they may recognize the evil of their actions and may turn to the way of peace and goodness, of respect for the life and for the dignity of every human being, regardless of religion, origin, wealth or poverty.”
The Pope’s four day visit to Krakow ends on Sunday when more than one million faithful are expected to attend the final or “sending” mass of the World Youth Day celebrations.