Pope to pray for victims of conflict at Rome War Cemetery

By Joseph Tulloch

Pope Francis will celebrate Mass on Thursday at the Rome War Cemetery, which holds the remains of Commonwealth soldiers who died in Italy during the Second World War.

He made this announcement to the faithful who had gathered in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday for the Solemnity of All Saints.

“Tomorrow afternoon I will celebrate Mass at the Rome Commonwealth War Cemetery,” Pope Francis said, speaking after he had recited the Angelus prayer with those in the square. 

“Let us,” he went on, “continue to pray for those who are suffering from today’s wars. Let us not forget martyred Ukraine, let us not forget Palestine, let us not forget Israel, let us not forget so many other regions where war still persists.”

In the past, the Pope has made reference to the “forgotten” conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and elsewhere, speaking of countries “wounded for many years by a terrible, forgotten war, which has caused so many deaths and still causes so many people to suffer, especially children.”

All Saints, All Souls

The Pope's Thursday Mass will fall on All Souls' Day, when the Church commemorates the "faithful departed". It is not the first time he has chosen to mark the occasion with Mass in a cemetery  - in 2018, he celebrated Mass at Rome's French Military Cemetery, while in 2021 he chose the Laurentino Cemetery. 

The Pope drew his post-Angelus address to a close by recalling that Wednesday is All Saints' Day, when the Church commemorates those in heaven. 

“I wish all of you a good feast, in the spiritual company of the saints", he said.