Padua: 9/11 prayers at Shrine of St Anthony

The terrorist attacks launched against the United States on 11 September 2001 were unprecedented in terms of savagery and brutality. Every year on this date, there is a special commemoration service for all those who died and their families at the Shrine of St Anthony in Padua.

The shrine also has a monument dedicated to the tragedy of 9/11 called Memory and Light, which contains a piece of an iron girder from the World Trade Centre. It is a symbolic representation of a twofold necessity: first, to be mindful of the evils of fanaticism and hatred, secondly, to never lose faith in the values of solidarity, peace, justice and equality, just like Saint Anthony taught us all those centuries ago.

Watch a video message by Fr Mario Conti from the Basilica of St Anthony, speaking in from of the Memory and Light monument here

Fr Mario said: "I will pray for you and with you that God, through the intercession of St Anthony, may look upon all the victims of terrorism, violence and war, and give us the strength to be courageous witnesses of non-violence, human solidarity and peace."

Source: Basilica of St Anthony