Pope decries 'absurdity of war,' urges reconciliation

Pope decries 'absurdity of war,' urges reconciliation
(CNS)
Pope Benedict XVI decried the absurdity of war and called on people to embrace forgiveness, peace and reconciliation. Speaking in Polish to pilgrims attending his September 2nd general audience, the German-born pope recalled that September 1st marked the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II. "The human tragedies and the absurdity of war remain in people's memories," he said. The pope was 12 years old and lived in Bavaria when the war began. "Let us ask God that the spirit of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation pervades the hearts of all people," he added. He said, "Europe and the world today need a spirit of communion," which should be built upon Christ, his Gospel, charity and truth. A German battleship fired on a Polish fort September 1, 1939, while German troops invaded Poland from the north, south and west killing six million Poles in the war. "In the memory of the peoples, the human tragedies and the absurdity of the war still remain," the Holy Father affirmed, emphasizing a lingering need for reconciliation. France and Great Britain declared war on Germany two days later.