ANZAC DAY in Rome
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
2 May 2010
The spring weather in Rome can be perfect. And last Sunday was perfect for the celebration of Anzac Day, although the days before and afterwards were overcast.
Rome received a lot of rain during the winter and the city is green and the growth abundant. As always, the Commonwealth War Cemetery is beautifully maintained, the lawns and gardens trimmed around the cross with the sword of honour at its heart.
It was beautiful to see some young children playing on the grass and running among the graves beforehand, oblivious of the tragedy that so many young deaths represent. In our war cemeteries we find a democracy of the dead as the fallen, whatever their rank, have identical monuments. I strongly suspect that all those interred beneath the lawns, most of them not Australians, would have been happy with the care-free children above them.
The service was Christian and ecumenical, led by the Anglican representative in Rome, Rev David Richardson and myself. A New Zealand priest did one of the readings and Amanda Vanstone, the effective and popular Australian Ambassador to Italy, was the host.
Half a dozen young Australians on leave from Afghanistan also attended and the ceremony was followed by Anzac biscuits, sausage rolls and lamingtons with a variety of liquid refreshments. I didn't notice any two-up.
It says much about the Christian sensibilities of Australia and New Zealand one hundred years ago that the Anzac remembrance was launched and became so popular. The practice originated in New Zealand to be taken up in turn by the Australian states.
Australia was still a teenager in 1915 and the grief at 60,000 war dead extended everywhere. Of all the allied countries only New Zealand had a higher percentage of dead.
But Gallipoli was a disaster, no victory, with the Turks driving off the Western invaders and it is this defeat which lies at the heart of our national mythology.
On April 25th we do more than honour raw courage. We exalt redemptive suffering and honour the good which came from defeat. Suffering in common brought Australians together; Protestant and Catholic, Irish and English.
It is over 45 years since I attended my first Anzac ceremony in Rome. The congregation was smaller then with fewer representatives from other nations.
Certainly the Turkish authorities did not have a ceremonial part, nor did we use the beautiful Anzac quote from Ataturk, as we did this year.
The celebration last week was deeper and better.
