Pope Francis Nettuno

Pope Makes Emotional Plea Against War

Pope Francis Nettuno
Long Thien is licensed under CC BY 1.0
Pope Francis calls for peace, warning about impending nuclear war

The pope celebrated a very emotional and teary-eyed All-Souls Day at the American Cemetery in Nettuno[/tweetit] where the bodies of 7,860 American soldiers lie resting. The soldiers were killed in a battle with the Nazis for the liberation of Rome and Southern Italy in 1942 and 1944. The pope also paid a visit to the Ardeatine caves where the Nazis had massacred 335 Italian men and boys as revenge for the death of 33 Nazi soldiers by at the hands of Resistance fighters.

Pope Makes Emotional Plea Against War[/tweetthis]

After his solemn walk through the tombs in the dark, somber caves, the Pope wrote “This is the fruit of war: hate, death, vendetta. Forgive us Lord” in the visitor’s book. The pope, a champion for peace has often spoken out against violence and war and repeatedly called for peace between all nations. At the American military cemetery, the pope walked slowly and silently among the tombstones, keeping white roses at some, saying a silent prayer at others, before finally offering Mass.

The pope expressed his fears that “today that the world once more is at war and is preparing to go even more forcefully into war” and stressed the importance of remembering those who lost their lives during the Second World War, especially the young people. At a time when fears of an impending nuclear war are running high, it is only natural that the leader of the Catholic Church, the largest Christian denomination, would urge leaders to choose the path of peace and give up talks of war.

The Pope was visibly moved during mass as well, with many pointing out that he was teary-eyed as he delivered his homily. “Please Lord, stop. No more wars. No more of these useless massacres,” he pleaded, in a soft voice, underlining the urgency and intensity of his desire to see that the world is at peace. The Pope observed that although All Souls Day was “a day of hope, it was also a day of tears”, adding that “Humanity must not forget the tears of mothers and wives who lost husbands and sons in past wars.”

Talks of a Nuclear war between North Korea and the USA have intensified off late and Trump even threatened that North Korea “will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” The Pope has called for a third-party mediation between the two nations before things went out of hand.

Resources

Follow the Conversation on Twitter