Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lorenzago di Cadore (Agenzia Fides) - Before leading the recitation of midday Angelus prayer from the northern Italian mountain town of Cadore, where is spending a brief period of rest, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, reflected on the drama of human freedom. “The beauty of God reminds us - the Pope said - that we are put on this Earth, this 'garden' by God to 'cultivate and protect it. If people lived in peace with God and among themselves, the Earth would truly resemble ‘paradise’. Unfortunately sin spoilt this divine plan generating division and bringing death into the world. This is why men give way to the temptations of the Evil One and make war on one another. The consequence is that here on the earth, in this wonderful 'garden' we see parts of 'hell'.”
Pope Benedict XVI then said that “war and its wake of grief and destruction, has always been rightly considered a calamity contrary to the plan of God” and he recalled a significant anniversary: on 1 August 1917 Pope Benedict XV addressed his famous “Message to the warring parties”, begging them to stop the First World War. The Pope had the courage to warn that it would be a "pointless carnage". “Those words, 'pointless carnage', were of prophetic and broader value - Pope Benedict XVI explained -, and can be applied to many others conflicts which cut short countless human lives”. The Holy Father underlined the necessity “to remember the negative experiences which our fathers sadly suffered, so as not to repeat them” and he recalled that the message issued by Pope Benedict XV also suggested “paths for building a fair and lasting peace … The Holy See's suggestion was oriented towards the future of Europe and the world, according to a project of Christian inspiration, but which could be shared by all since it was founded on the rights of peoples. This same line was followed by the Servants of God Paul VI and John Paul II in their memorable discourses in front of the United Nations Assembly repeating in the name of the Church: ‘Never again war!’. From this place of peace, where the unacceptability of the horrors of 'pointless slaughters' even is more keenly felt, I renew my appeal to pursue with tenacity the path of rights, to reject with determination the arms race, to refuse more in general the temptation to face new situations with old systems.”
After the Marian prayer the Pope thanked the people and civil authorities of Lorenzago for their hospitality. He greeted the bishops present, the Patriarch of Venice Cardinal Angelo Scola, the Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the president of the Italian Bishops' Conference Angelo Bagnasco, Bishop Giuseppe Andrich of Belluno-Feltre, Bishop Andrea Bruno Mazzocato of Treviso and also representatives of lay and youth associations. His closing greeting was for the brother of the Servant of God Pope John Paul I, Mr Edoardo Luciani. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2007 - righe 35, parole 512)
