Pope Leo XIV: "War tears children away from their mothers, let the weapons be silent"

"May the tears of many mothers, of many children, of many elderly people touch the consciences of those who have the power to silence the weapons". This is the Pope's new appeal on the occasion of the mass celebrated at the Verano cemetery in Rome on the occasion of the commemoration of the deceased.

"At this moment we want to pray for those who have recently lost a loved one; in particular for those from whom the absurd violence of war has torn them away", says Leo XIV.

The homily at the Verano cemetery in Rome

Leone, who is preparing to embark on the long journey to Latin America from Friday after being admitted to the Gemelli hospital for the removal of a lung tumor last 13 October, concluded his homily at the Roman cemetery of Verano, recalling the "beatitude" that St. Francis of Assisi added to the Canticle of Creatures, when he understood that his end was near: "'Laudato si' mi Lord for our corporal death, from which no living man can escape: woe to those who will die in mortal sins; blessed are those who will find in your most holy wills, since second death will not hurt them".

“Faith in Christ - concluded Leone - tells us that our bond with the faithful deceased is not interrupted, but transformed”.