BREAKING 150 Catholic Priests, Nuns, and a Bishop March Near the Vatican Against Genocide in Gaza and S. Lebanon Holding the Names of Children Killed on a Shroud - VIDEO

On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, approximately 150 Catholic priests, friars, nuns, and bishops from around the world marched through Rome toward the Vatican to demand an end the "genocide" in Gaza and southern Lebanon. (Associated Press) [1, 2]
Organized by the "Priests Against Genocide" network—a coalition formed in August 2025, that has grown to include over 2,500 clergy members globally—the demonstrators aimed to urge Catholic Church leadership to take a more outspoken stance against the conflict and the financing of weapons. [1, 2] There were riests and bishops from five continents, organizers said. Among those marching Tuesday was the bishop of Manfredonia, Italy, Msgr. Franco Moscone

This year’s march served to reaffirm that genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing must never become “normal,” nor be forgotten. As Father Peter-John Pearson, Vicar for Clergy of the Archdiocese of Cape Town and Director of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, who traveled from South Africa for the occasion, declared: “We march so that genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing never become normal — because every child is a child of God, with a name, not a number.”

There have been over 20,000 children killed in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 conflict; but their shroud only held the names of those killed during the ceasefire of Oct. 2025.

Key highlights of the demonstration included carrying a shroud listing the names of children killed in since the October 10, 2025 ceasefire, participation by international bishops and clergy, a prayer procession near St. Peter's Square, and a final protest at the headquarters of Italian defense manufacturer Leonardo S.p.A.