Pope Francis (Credit: Caribbean360 / Bigstock)
REDIPUGLIA, Italy, Tuesday September 16, 2014 – Pope Francis has warned that World War III may have already begun
Speaking on Saturday during a visit to Redipuglia military cemetery, where he was commemorating the centenary of World War I, the pontiff alluded to a more insidious global conflict.
“Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction,” he said.
“War is madness,” he declared at the memorial to 100,000 Italian soldiers who gave their lives in World War I and are interred at the country’s largest military cemetery.
The Pope has repeatedly condemned the idea of war in God’s name, and has called for an end to conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, and parts of Africa.
Last month, the outspoken pontiff said the international community would be justified in using force to halt “unjust aggression” by Islamic State militants, who have killed or displaced thousands of people in Iraq and Syria, including many Christians, and outraged millions worldwide with the much-publicised beheadings of American and British hostages.
On Saturday, the Pope paid tribute to victims of all wars.
“Humanity needs to weep, and this is the time to weep,” he said.
The pontiff’s visit was also infused with personal meaning, according to a BBC report.
His grandfather fought in Italy’s offensive against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in north-east Italy in 1917 and 1918.
During his visit to Redipuglia, the Pope was presented with the document with which his grandfather enlisted to fight for Italy before emigrating to Argentina, Francis’ birthplace.
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World War III may have already begun says Pope Francis
