Pope Francis' pastoral visit to Verona emphasizes call to be peacemakers  

"There are many wars, many wars, both in Ukraine and in the Holy Land, in Africa, in Myanmar... Many, many wars," the pope said. 

"Does Jesus preach war or peace?" the pope asked the children. Answering in a booming and unified voice, they shouted: "Peace!"

After his address to the young people, Pope Francis arrived at Verona's first-century Roman amphitheater after 10 a.m and was greeted with a standing ovation by the over 10,000 spectators in attendance.

Much like the arena itself, the event was rich in symbolism, reflecting the overarching themes of justice, peace, and social inclusion.

Pope Francis took his place at the center of the stage and sat in a high-back wooden armchair — constructed by inmates — responding to a series of questions on ecology, migration, and just economic development, all of which were subsumed under the urgent call for peace.

Responding to a question, fielded by an Afghani woman, on how to make peace work, the pope warned against a culture "marked by individualism," as this runs the risk of "making the dimension of the community disappear."

"The dimension of the community disappears, the dimension of the vital bonds that support us and make us advance. And it inevitably also produces consequences on the way in which authority is understood."

"And this," the pontiff continued, "is perhaps the root of dictatorships." 

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The Holy Father proceeded to the next event, a meeting with the inmates at Verona's Montorio prison where he expressed his closeness and reminded them: "God forgives everything and he always forgives." 

The pope also addressed the conditions of the prison, one of the most overcrowded in Italy, and expressed his "pain" that some inmates have committed suicide. 

"Life is always worth living, always," the pope declared. 

"Our existence," he continued, "is a unique gift for us and for others, for everyone, and above all for God, who never abandons us, and who actually knows how to listen, rejoice, and cry with us, and always forgive." 

📹HIGHLIGHTS | Pope Francis made a pastoral visit to Verona where he met with priests, youth and prisoners, participated in the "Arena of Peace - Justice and Peace Will Kiss" and celebrated Holy Mass in front of 32 thousand faithful. pic.twitter.com/3JFYyLBs83

— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) May 18, 2024

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