“Greed, intolerance, the lust for power…These motives underlie the decision to go to war, and they are too often justified by an ideology. It’s presented as a justification and when there is no ideology, there is the response of Cain: “Why should I care?”

Pope Francis honored the fallen of World War I, in a cemetery where the tragedy of war, speaks volumes through silence. 
It’s the “Sacrario di Redipuglia.” A military cemetery, where more than 100,000 Italian soldiers are laid to rest. They all died 100 years ago, when the WWI broke out. 

 

Pope Francis

“I now find myself here, close this cemetery, and I can only say only one thing: War is madness”
 
Pope Francis celebrated Mass on a rainy Saturday morning. During his homily he denounced the real causes of wars and conflicts.
 

Pope Francis

“Greed, intolerance, the lust for power…These motives underlie the decision to go to war, and they are too often justified by an ideology. It’s presented as a justification and when there is no ideology, there is the response of Cain: “Why should I care?”
 
Referring to all the dead soldiers that are buried there, Pope Francis explained that all their dreams and hopes were destroyed by war. He added that the real culprits of war, just like Cain,  didn’t care.
 
Given the rise of so many wars and conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, Gaza and parts of Africa, the Pope said a Third World War isn’t far fetched. 
 

Pope Francis

“Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction… How is this possible?  It is so because in today’s world, behind the scenes, there are interests, geopolitical strategies, lust for money and power, and there is the manufacture and sale of arms.”
 
Soldiers and military personnel attended the Mass, which ended with a prayer for allvictims of wars. No songs or cheers followed…just the somber tune of trumpets.