Priests march to Vatican with names of 300 children killed in Gaza and Lebanon

About 150 Catholic priests, friars, a bishop, and nuns marched through Rome on September 22 to call for an end to the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. The group, which included Bishop Franco Moscone of Manfredonia, carried a white shroud bearing the handwritten names of 300 children killed in the region. The protesters prayed in front of St. Peter’s Basilica but did not enter Vatican territory.

Organizers from the Priests Against Genocide network called for renewed diplomacy, increased protection for civilians, and an end to arms sales. The network reported that more than 300 children have died in Gaza since October 2025 and approximately 150 have died in Lebanon over the previous five months. The marchers also visited the Palestinian and Lebanese embassies and the Rome headquarters of the defense manufacturer Leonardo SpA.

The demonstration marked the first anniversary of the international network's first meeting. The group, which now includes over 2,500 priests and bishops across five continents, stated the march aimed to resist the normalization of genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing. The day included a private meeting with delegations from eight countries and a livestreamed Divine Mercy Chaplet at Santo Spirito in Sassia.