ROME - "What happened here is March 24, 1944 is a very serious offense against God, because it is the deliberate violence of man by man." Welcomed by Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni and the President of the National Association of Italian families of the martyrs who died for the freedom of his country Rosina Stamen, Benedict XVI has arrived at the Fosse Ardeatine to celebrate the 67th anniversary dell'eccidio.
Next to the Pope the Cardinal Vicar, Agostino Vallini, and dean emeritus of St. Paul, Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, son of the colonel commanding the military strength of Rome, which fell victim to other 334 of retaliation following the attack in Via Rasella that cost the lives of 33 of the SS "Polizeiregiment Bozen.
For the Pope, the massacre was "the most appalling effect of the war, any war, and God is life, peace, communion." "Like my predecessors - Pope Ratzinger explained - I came here to pray and renew the memory. I have come to rely on divine mercy, which alone can bridge the chasms opened by the men when, impelled by blind violence, deny their dignity children of God and brothers to each other.
" After the Angelus, the pope made "an urgent appeal to international organizations and many political leaders and military for the immediate initiation of a dialogue, which suspends the use of arms." "Faced with the news, more dramatic, coming from Libya - said the pontiff - is growing fear for my safety and security of civilians, and my concern for the developments of the situation currently marked by the use of weapons.
" For Benedict XVI, "in moments of greatest tension is made more urgent the need to resort to every means available to the diplomatic efforts and to support the weak signal of openness between all parties involved in the search for peaceful solutions ". Ratzinger concluded: "I raise my prayer to the Lord for a return to harmony in Libya and the entire North African region." Benedict XVI then quoted extensively in a graffiti taken from a cell in the prison torture in Via Tasso, during the Nazi occupation: "I believe in God and in Italy, I believe in the resurrection of the martyrs and heroes, belief in the rebirth of the fatherland and freedom of the people.
" The Pope also read the words written on a sheet found at the Ardeatine, on which a victim had left their thoughts on the persecution of the Jewish people: "My great Father God we pray so that you can protect Jews from the barbarity of persecution." The book of distinguished visitors, Benedict XVI wrote, "Do not You timebo quia mecum es", "Do not be afraid for thou art with me." A phrase from Psalm 23 that he had read in Italian by praying at the tombs of the victims.
At the Fosse Ardeatine, Pope Ratzinger expressed his hope for the future of humanity. He said that "every man, of any people is the son of the Father and brother to all of humanity". "There is the possibility of a different future, free from hatred and revenge, a future of freedom and fraternity, for Rome, Italy, Europe and the world," he said.
He added that "brothers feel it is not evident, as demonstrated by this shrine." 
Next to the Pope the Cardinal Vicar, Agostino Vallini, and dean emeritus of St. Paul, Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, son of the colonel commanding the military strength of Rome, which fell victim to other 334 of retaliation following the attack in Via Rasella that cost the lives of 33 of the SS "Polizeiregiment Bozen.
For the Pope, the massacre was "the most appalling effect of the war, any war, and God is life, peace, communion." "Like my predecessors - Pope Ratzinger explained - I came here to pray and renew the memory. I have come to rely on divine mercy, which alone can bridge the chasms opened by the men when, impelled by blind violence, deny their dignity children of God and brothers to each other.
" After the Angelus, the pope made "an urgent appeal to international organizations and many political leaders and military for the immediate initiation of a dialogue, which suspends the use of arms." "Faced with the news, more dramatic, coming from Libya - said the pontiff - is growing fear for my safety and security of civilians, and my concern for the developments of the situation currently marked by the use of weapons.
" For Benedict XVI, "in moments of greatest tension is made more urgent the need to resort to every means available to the diplomatic efforts and to support the weak signal of openness between all parties involved in the search for peaceful solutions ". Ratzinger concluded: "I raise my prayer to the Lord for a return to harmony in Libya and the entire North African region." Benedict XVI then quoted extensively in a graffiti taken from a cell in the prison torture in Via Tasso, during the Nazi occupation: "I believe in God and in Italy, I believe in the resurrection of the martyrs and heroes, belief in the rebirth of the fatherland and freedom of the people.
" The Pope also read the words written on a sheet found at the Ardeatine, on which a victim had left their thoughts on the persecution of the Jewish people: "My great Father God we pray so that you can protect Jews from the barbarity of persecution." The book of distinguished visitors, Benedict XVI wrote, "Do not You timebo quia mecum es", "Do not be afraid for thou art with me." A phrase from Psalm 23 that he had read in Italian by praying at the tombs of the victims.
At the Fosse Ardeatine, Pope Ratzinger expressed his hope for the future of humanity. He said that "every man, of any people is the son of the Father and brother to all of humanity". "There is the possibility of a different future, free from hatred and revenge, a future of freedom and fraternity, for Rome, Italy, Europe and the world," he said.
He added that "brothers feel it is not evident, as demonstrated by this shrine."
- You: Pope condemns Nazi massacre as 'offence against God' (27/03/2011)
- At site of Nazi massacre, Pope deplores 'grave offense to God' (28/03/2011)
- Pope to visit site where Nazis executed hundreds of Italians (25/02/2011)
- The Ardeatine Massacre (24/03/2011)
- Pope visits memorial to Nazi victims in Rome (27/03/2011)
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