Be proud of your uniform, committed to peace, pope tells military catholiccitizens.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from catholiccitizens.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) Entrusting to God s mercy all of their comrades-in-arms who have died serving their countries and defending peace, Pope Francis urged Catholic members of the military to let their faith inform their service."The world needs you, especially at this dark moment in our history. We need men and women of faith capable of putting weapons at the service of peace and brotherhood," said the papal message to thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and cadets making a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.The annual International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, held May 24-26 this year, involves some 15,000 current, retired and wounded members of the military from 40 nations including members of the Vatican s Swiss Guard. They are joined by military chaplains and bishops who head their nations military ordinariates, including Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, president of the U.S. Conferen