Pope recalls useless slaughter of First World War

Source: Vatican Media

During the Angelus with pilgrims in St Peter's Square on Sunday, Pope Francis spoke about the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, the beatification of 16 people in Spain and the upcoming World Day of the Poor.

"Today marks the centenary of the end of the First World War, which my predecessor, Benedict XV, defined as the 'useless slaughter', Pope Francis said.

World War I was a "strong warning" to reject the "culture of war" and to "seek every legitimate means to put an end to those conflicts that still are making blood flow in many regions of the world", he said.

The Pope proposed St Martin of Tours as a symbol of investing in peace. "He cut his cloak in two to share it with a poor man. May this gesture of human solidarity indicate to everyone the way toward constructing peace", Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis also announced that Father Teodoro Illera of Olma and 15 other Spanish martyrs were beatified. The Beatification Ceremony took place in Barcelona on Saturday.

The group, Pope Francis explained, is composed of 13 men and women religious and three lay people. Nine of the newly Beatified were religious and lay people who belonged to the Congregation of St Peter in Chains. Three of them were women religious from the Capuchins of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd, and one was a sister of the Franciscans of the Sacred Heart.

All of them were killed because of their faith, during the religious persecution that took place during the Spanish Civil War.
"Let us praise the Lord for these courageous witnesses," Pope Francis said.

Finally Pope Francis pointed out that next Sunday will be the Second World Day for the Poor. Many initiatives are planned, including a clinic which will be set up in St Peter's Square for those needing emergency medical care. "I hope that this Day will encourage greater attention to the needs of the least and the marginalised", he said.