Italian students visit Westminster Cathedral

Lateran University students with Bishop John

Bishop John Wilson took a group of students from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome on a visit to Westminster Cathedral on Monday - the Feast of the Transfiguration.

After exploring the Cathedral the students, (who are mainly studying law and theology) met the Pax Christi group who were holding an information stall and prayers for Hiroshima Day outside in the Piazza. They had leaflets published in a number of languages - including Italian - which they were able to give to the visitors. The leaflet text follows:

Siamo qui oggi per fare memoria storica della bombe in Giappone nel 1945, di Hiroshima e Nagasaki. La prima volta che e state utilizzata la bomba atomica.

Pax Christi lavora per abolire le armi atomiche e costruire pace e giustizia in questo museoo. Vogliamo ricordare le parole di Papa Francesco: "La deferenza nucleare e la minaccia della distruzione reciproco assicurata non possono essere la base di un'etica di fraternità e di pacifica coesistenza tra i popoli. Oggi, fermati e prega con noi per la pace.

On Thursday evening, the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, Pax Christi is holding the annual ecumenical peace service in the Cathedral crypt to remember Blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter, executed in 1945 for refusing to serve in Hitler's army, at 6.30pm.

After the service there will be procession to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park and the Floating Lantern ceremony to commemorate the lives lost in Nagasaki.

For more information see: www.paxchristi.org.uk

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