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Cathedral Hosts 'Prayers For Peace' In Middle East

DENVER (CBS4)- Hundreds of people gathered to pray for peace in the Middle East during the most recent crisis in Iraq. Some faith leaders are calling on President Obama to do more.

The Archbishop of Denver hosted the prayer service at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

The prayer service had been in the planning stages for a while but with even more violence escalating over the weekend, the timing seemed appropriate. Faith leaders say the situation can no longer be ignored.

Prayers for Peace
Prayers for Peace at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver (credit: CBS)

The cathedral prayer service was attended by those of all faiths, praying for an end to the violence caused by ISIS.

ISIS has been on a violent rampage through Iraq since June. The Sunni-led group is at war against the Shiites and other religious minorities in the Middle East. They've worked systematically to destroy Shiite temples and execute Shiites who would not convert to Sunni Islam.

Iraq
Iraqi tribes men carry their weapons as they gather, volunteering to fight along side the Iraqi security forces against Jihadist militants who have taken over several northern Iraqi cities, on June 15 2014, in the capital Baghdad. Faced with a militant offensive sweeping south toward Baghdad, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the Iraqi government would arm and equip civilians who volunteer to fight, and thousands have signed up.(credit: AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)

"We ask for peace around the world no matter where they are," led one prayer.

Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in Denver said they're uniting to call for action in what's happening in Iraq.

Over the weekend the U.S. began bombing military installations attacking in Northern Iraq and dropping aid to refugees who are trapped by ISIA. Now those leaders are asking for the U.S. to intervene even more.

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