Students, residents, leaders, and civic authorities gathered at Borgo Laudato Si’ on February 10 to remember the victims of the devastating 1944 Allied air raid that struck the papal residence during the Second World War, killing more than 500 civilians who had sought safety within its walls.
The commemoration, held inside the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, featured a Peace March and reflections on the tragedy’s enduring message against hatred and war.
“War Is Never a Solution”
Delivering the keynote message, Father Manuel Dorantes, administrative director of the Laudato Si’ Higher Education Center, reminded participants of the human cost of violence.
“The tragedy of 1944 reminds us what happens when hatred prevails. To remember today means stating clearly: war is never a solution.”
He recalled that the victims were ordinary people fleeing bombardment, welcomed by Pope Pius XII but tragically killed when Allied bombs struck the area on 10 February 1944.
Fr Dorantes emphasized that Pope Pius XII did not respond with speeches but with action—opening the doors of the papal residence and saving thousands.
“He made space available. He saved lives. That is what makes the difference: turning values into concrete action.”
Building a Future Where Life Is Protected
Today, the same historic site is evolving into the Laudato Si’ Village, a space dedicated to education, sustainability, faith formation, and social inclusion.
Fr Dorantes noted that while the area once sheltered civilians from bombs, it now protects against modern threats such as indifference, injustice, and environmental exploitation—principles inspired by Laudato Si’.
“Where shelter was once offered, a future is now being built.”
Remembering the Past, Forming the Future
The commemoration also reflects the broader spiritual context of 2026, which Pope Leo XIV has declared a Jubilee Year marking **800 years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Fr Dorantes encouraged the young participants to learn from Francis’ transformation from a proud soldier to a messenger of peace:
“Violence does not build the future, but destroys.”
