Monte Grappa ceremony honors WWI dead with Italian ministers and Austrian delegation

On 2 August 2026, a traditional pilgrimage to Cima Grappa in the Veneto region held a ceremony honoring more than 23,000 soldiers who died on the mountain during the 1917‑1918 battles of the First World War, as well as partisans from the Second World War. The event marked the 125th anniversary of the Madonna of Cima Grappa pilgrimage and the 25th anniversary of the Jubilee cross placed on the summit.

Italian officials attended, including Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, Veneto President Alberto Stefani, and Pieve del Grappa mayor Annalisa Rampin, together with a delegation from Austria. Religious participants included Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, who presided over the Mass, and General Rispoli recalled the story of Austro‑Hungarian soldier Peter Pan, who fell on the mountain in December 1917. The ceremony featured military honors, the laying of wreaths, and a moment of reflection at the Austro‑Hungarian war cemetery.