Pope Francis: "War is madness"

Rain falls in a somber mass held by Pope Francis in northern Italy, marking 100 years since the start of the first world war.

He's visiting the country's largest war memorial, where some 15,000 soldiers from five nations of the Austro-Hungarian empire lost their lives.

Thousands brave the rain to hear his words and reflect on the past.

The Pope warns the faithful of a third world war.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING:

"Finding myself here, in this place, near this cemetery, I am able to say only one thing: War is madness."

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING:

"Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction."

During the memorial, a bugle plays, setting an ominous tone reminding those here of the human cost of war.