Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle Thursday called on the Filipino faithful to pray for peace between the two nations and for the  safety of Filipinos based in the Middle East.

In his homily during the Midnight Mass for the Traslacion 2020, Tagle urged devotees of the Black Nazarene to pray for hostilities to ease.

“Let us remember that in other parts of the world, there is a war brewing. Let us pray that our brothers in the Middle East be kept safe, for the desire for revenge and destroy others to subside,” said Tagle.

“I invite you to have a moment of silence and offer prayers for peace,” he added.

Tagle asked devotees to pray for the safety of the estimated two million Filipinos in the region.

“Let us also pray for our fellow Filipinos and their worried families here at home,” said Tagle.

Last week, US President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles against US troops in Iraq bases on late Tuesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Iran and Iraq.

Records show there are about 1,100 Filipinos in Iran and 2,100 in Iraq, excluding undocumented workers. DMS