Bishop Offers Prayers for Mid-East Peace BUFFALO (wned) - With no let-up in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI dedicated Sunday as a special day of prayer.

The Pope's message was delivered throughout Western New York at Sunday masses. Bishop Edward Kmiec says this is the right time for prayer.

"Hundreds of people have already been killed and many of them civilians, innocents and children. Our Holy Father has asked us all around the world to join in prayer and I pass that message in to the parishes in our diocese to put in a very special prayer for peace," said Kmiec.

Kmiec says one can never underestimate the power of prayer and with no end in sight to the mid-east crisis, he says it is desperately needed now.

Pope Benedict says defenseless civilians are being "unjustly hit in a conflict in which there are only victims."

The Pope is renewing his appeal for a ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. © Copyright 2010, wned