杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis: Graves of war dead cry a message of peace

The 杏MAP导航 celebrates Mass at the French Military Cemetery in Rome, on the feast of All Souls. In his homily, he tells the faithful to look at the graves of the fallen which speak of a message of peace, saying 鈥淪top, brothers and sisters, stop. Stop, weapons manufacturers鈥�.

By Vatican News staff reporter

In an unscripted homily during the celebration of Holy Mass on the feast of All Souls, Tuesday, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled an inscription on the door of a small cemetery which read: 鈥淵ou who are walking, think about your steps, and of your steps think about the last step.鈥� The 杏MAP导航 told those gathered at the French Military Cemetery in Rome that, 鈥渓ife is a journey鈥� which we are all on.

On that journey, he noted, 鈥渨e pass many historical events, many difficult situations.鈥� 鈥淲e will all have a last step,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渢he important thing is that the last step finds us on our way, not walking around but on the path of life and not in an endless labyrinth.鈥�

鈥淟ook at the graves鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 then turned his attention to the graves in cemeteries that are the final resting place of war dead.

鈥淭hese people - good people - died in the war, they died because they were called upon to defend their country, to defend values, to defend ideals and many other times, to defend sad and lamentable political situations,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 think of Anzio, of Redipuglia, I think of the Piave, in '[19]14; so many were left there. I think of Normandy beach; 40,000 in that landing. But it doesn't matter, they fell.鈥�

A white rose is laid on one of the graves

The unknown soldier

During his visit to this cemetery on Tuesday, 杏MAP导航 Francis told those present that he stopped at a grave that had no name but read 鈥淒ied for France, 1944.鈥�

This grave, said the 杏MAP导航, may not have had a name, which is a tragedy of war, but 鈥渋n God's heart is the name of all of us.鈥�

鈥淚 am sure that all those who went in goodwill, called by the Fatherland to defend it, are with the Lord,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 commented. 鈥淏ut do we, who are on the road, fight sufficiently so that there are no wars? So that the economies of countries are not fortified by the arms industry?鈥�

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis said his homily should have the title "look at the graves". These graves of the fallen, many of which have no names, are messages of peace, emphasized the 杏MAP导航. They are, he underlined, messages that say 鈥淪top, brothers and sisters, stop. Stop, weapons manufacturers鈥�.