U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michele issued a statement today on the White House website commemorating Ash Wednesday and requesting prayer for persecuted Christians around the world.
“Today, Michelle and I join our fellow Christians in marking Ash Wednesday,” the statement begins. “Lent is a season of reflection, repentance and renewal, a time to rededicate ourselves to God and one another.”
“We remember the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ.”
The statement then requests prayer for persecuted Christians: “We pray for all those who suffer, including those Christians who are subjected to unspeakable violence and persecution for their faith.”
Obama and his wife also called attention to the plight of persecuted Christians in a statement issued for Christmas in December of 2015.
“In some areas of the Middle East where church bells have rung for centuries on Christmas Day, this year they will be silent,” the Christmas statement said. “This silence bears tragic witness to the brutal atrocities committed against these communities by ISIL.”
“We join with people around the world in praying for God’s protection for persecuted Christians and those of other faiths”
Obama regularly issues statements on important holidays for various religions. For example, he has released statements for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Orthodox Christmas.
Here’s the full Ash Wednesday statement from the White House website:
Today, Michelle and I join our fellow Christians in marking Ash Wednesday. Lent is a season of reflection, repentance and renewal, a time to rededicate ourselves to God and one another. We remember the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ. We pray for all those who suffer, including those Christians who are subjected to unspeakable violence and persecution for their faith. And we join millions here at home and around the world in giving thanks for this sacred and solemn season that guides us toward the Easter celebration.
What do you think of his statement? Share your thoughts in the comments!
[See also: President Obama Carries a Rosary from Pope Francis in His Pocket]
[See also: The Number of Christian Martyrs Tripled in the Last Two Years]