Vatican City, Oct 31, 2019 / 10:54 am
Pope Francis met with military chaplains from around the world Thursday as they participate in a formation course on international humanitarian law hosted by the Vatican.
"Dear Ordinaries and military chaplains: as you carry out your mission to form the consciences of the members of the armed forces, I encourage you to spare no effort to enable the norms of international humanitarian law to be accepted in the hearts of those entrusted to your pastoral care," Pope Francis said in the Apostolic Palace Oct. 31.
"The Second Vatican Council calls those in military service 'custodians of the security and freedom of their people,'" he said. "The servants of Christ in the military world are also the first to be at the service of men and women and of their fundamental rights."
More than 130 Catholic military chaplains from 70 countries are participating in the formation course offered in international humanitarian law at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome Oct. 29-31.