Fribourg, Switzerland (AINA) -- Charles Morerod, Bishop of Fribourg, Lausanne and Geneva invited all churches of his diocese to ring their bells at noon on August 15. With this action he joins an initiative of various dioceses in France who want to demonstrate this action as a sign of solidarity with the Christians in the Middle East. The initiative for this occasion came from a French amateur group.

"On August 15, while celebrating the Assumption of Mary into heaven, we want entrust the Christians of the Middle East to Mary, Mother of Peace," writes Bishop Morerod in a press release dated August 8. This is accompanied with a prayer to Our Lady. The French initiative has been proposed by activist group, which itself goes back to the call as a prayer of solidarity. Whether other Swiss dioceses will join the initiative is still open.

In France various dioceses have called for ringing of church bells on august 15. Archbishop Jean-Pierre Cattenoz of Avignon commented that they have chosen the Solemnity of the Assumption date, because Maria is regarded and called as a patron especially among the Christians in the Middle East.

Article translated by AINA.