Then, the Pope recalled "a remarkable date: August 1st, 1917", when Benedict XV "sent his famous Note to belligerent countries, asking them the put an end to the First World War". "While the huge conflict was ravaging said Benedict XVI, – the Pope had the courage to state it was a ‘useless massacre’. This expression of his was carved in history. It was justified by the concrete situation taking place in summer 1917, especially on this front, the front of Veneto. But those words, ‘useless massacre’, include also a greater value, a prophetic value, and can be applied to lots of other conflicts putting an end to numerous human lives". "Just this land where we are now, which for itself is talking about peace and harmony went on the Holy Father, was the theatre of the First World War. That is still recalled by lots of evidences and some moving chants of the Alpini. Those events must not be forgotten! It is necessary to learn from the negative experiences unfortunately suffered by our fathers, not to repeat them". (to be continued)
