Poland: The Pope Greets Veterans of the Battle of Monte Cassino

Zenit ^ | May 17, 2017 | Anne Kurian

[ebb tide]

L'Osservatore Romano

During the General Audience of May 17, 2017, Pope Francis greeted veterans of the battle of Monte Cassino, which enabled the Allies to liberate Rome in 1944 from the German occupation. He hoped that the sacrifice of the dead would sow peace in the world.

Addressing himself to Poles in the course of the greetings in different languages, the Pontiff turned to the veterans of the Second Corps of the Polish Army, who came to Italy for the anniversary of the battle, which after several months of confrontations, witnessed the break in the Gustav line and the retreat of the Germans in May, 1944.

“I greet all the combatants here present, who in the course of World War II fought for the freedom of your country and of other nations,” said the Pontiff. And he hoped that “your effort, the engagement and the sacrifice of life of your companions, will fructify with peace in Europe and in the whole world.”

“I bless you from my heart, you here present and your families,” concluded Pope Francis.

 

[ebb tide]

“I greet all the combatants here present, who in the course of World War II fought for the freedom of your country and of other nations,” said the Pontiff. And he hoped that “your effort, the engagement and the sacrifice of life of your companions, will fructify with peace in Europe and in the whole world.”

Once again, the Francis reverses himself. No condemnation of wars, combatants or arms dealers or not resorting to "dialogue" seen here.

[yarddog]

I am going on memory but didn’t the Poles finally capture the ruins after numerous attempts by other forces failed?

The worst thing about it was the Germans were willing to not defend it but we went ahead and bombed it anyway. The Germans then went back into the rubble and held out against many attacks.

[W.]

It was quite a battle.

[RossA]

The Gurkha Rifles did the hard work...for 16 days.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

I visited there a few years back, if you are in the area it is well worth your time. There is a large Polish cemetery there.

[PAR35]

At least the Army Air Corps didn’t discriminate when they bombed the undefended Abbey. They also managed to hit Fifth Army headquarters.

[Calvin Locke]

And probably the supply unit with the Iranian bear helping load/unload ammo crates.

I think the bear ended up in a London zoo.

[PAR35]

I am going on memory but didn’t the Poles finally capture the ruins after numerous attempts by other forces failed?

Yes, but by that point the Germans had pulled out when the Moroccan broke through the German lines west of the valley enabling a British breakout from the bridgeheads.

[vooch]

A most heroic struggle worthy of the name.

[jmacusa]

Yes they did.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

FWIW, the Army Air Corps was rebranded the Army Air Force on June 20, 1941. On September 18, 1947, it became a separate service branch.

[Snowyman]

The Polish Cemetery at Monte Cassino holds the graves of over a thousand Poles and over two hundred Belarusians who died storming the bombed-out Benedictine abbey

For our freedom and yours
We soldiers of Poland
Gave
Our soul to God
Our life to the soil of Italy
Our hearts to Poland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Cemetery_at_Monte_Cassino