Casoria, the bishop at the funeral of Santo Romano: "God paralyze the hands of those who sell weapons"

Casoria. He used strong, very strong words against those who sell weapons, Monsignor Francesco Beneduce the auxiliary bishop of Naples in his homily delivered at the funeral of Holy Roman, the 19-year-old killed by gunshots during the night between November 1st and 2nd in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, in the province of Naples.

We cannot allow these lives to end, and here the responsibility lies with the cities, not so much with the mayors in the strict sense, but with us. As adults, we have abdicated. At this moment, I would like to say: Lord, paralyze the hands of those who sell guns so easily and so cheaply, because this has a price that cannot be measured.

Please, Lord, I don't want to curse, but in the name of God, restrain the hands of those who get money this way. Go to Caritas, come to my house, but don't let anyone get fat in the name of a life cut short."

And then he added: "What can I say to Santo's friends? It's as if the ball is in our half right now. My friends, play as a team. You know that sport and football are demanding and tough, requiring effort, fatigue, and testing. Santo would say: play as a team, choose life, continue to choose life together."

"Even though he wasn't captain - added Monsignor Beneduce, addressing the 19-year-old's friends and teammates "Santo was a leader, he knew how to bring everyone together. I like to think he would have said, 'Be a midfielder, be generous, play as a team, value others.'"

The auxiliary bishop quoted an interview with Gianluca Vialli: "He said that in life many things don't depend on you, but how we experience the situations we find ourselves in, that depends on us.

Right now, if there's only anger, sadness, and rage that gives way to aggression and the worst parts of ourselves, it's as if we're not picking up the baton, as if we're leaving the ball in our own half-court, because sadness, anger, and rage only lead to death. Right now, it's important what shirt you want to wear. The world needs you; play with the right shirt on the right field."

 As the coffin came out, the cry: "Justice, justice!"

The chorus "Justice, justice" and a long applause. So the many people present outside have some Church of Santa Maria Francesca of the Five Wounds, in Casoria, welcomed the exit of the coffin of Saint Romano. In the street, some of the boy's friends lit white smoke bombs.

The church was packed, with many outside to welcome Santo, repeatedly shouting his name amid tears and grief. Just before entering the church, friends in white T-shirts on scooters honked their horns insistently.

One of his friends showed off the goalkeeper jersey Santo wore for the Micri team. The coffin, bearing the goalkeeper jersey Santo wore during matches, was carried into the church by his friends. "Santo, number one!" the crowd chanted.

Mayors and regional councillors present in the church

The banners of the Campania Region and the Municipalities of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio and Casoria were placed in the church of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe in Casoria. The mayors of Casoria were present at the function, Raphael Good, and of Saint Sebastian, Peppe Pugliese, the deputy mayor of the metropolitan city of Naples Joseph Cirilland the councilor of the Campania Region Armida Filippelli.

Representatives of local institutions met with Santo's family, near whom the boy's teammates, a footballer from the Microphone, a team that plays in the Campania Excellence championship for which he played as a goalkeeper.