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Bombs, death, and trench warfare were defining experiences for Father Angelo Roncalli during his time as an Italian military chaplain in World War I. These experiences later shaped his life and ministry as a priest, bishop, and eventually Pope John XXIII.
The National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is showcasing the contributions of military chaplains through the Sacred Service exhibit. Opened in May 2024, the exhibit aims to educate visitors on the critical role chaplains played during the First World War.
The exhibit features a variety of artifacts, multimedia presentations, and detailed descriptions highlighting different priests and the history of the chaplain corps in World War I. Patricia Cecil, the museum’s specialist curator for faith and religion in World War I, focused on telling the story of chaplains' impact on soldiers and how these developments influenced future military chaplaincy.
“The National World War I museum really wants to look at the lesser-known experiences of World War I, the voices that really have not been heard before,” Cecil told OSV News. She added that "Sacred Service is an effort to tell those stories through the lens and experiences of military chaplains."
Cecil wanted to convey how World War I transformed America's chaplaincy program. “When America’s military was professionalizing...the chaplaincy program realized that they had to do the same,” she said. The war led to an expansion of the program to include more faiths beyond Catholic and Protestant.
Chaplains served as spiritual mentors and advisers during battles. “You can only imagine the spiritual weight a soldier would feel if he was about to die or he might have to kill someone,” Cecil noted. Chaplains provided sacraments such as Mass or confessions under challenging conditions.
Chaplains also took active roles on battlefields by offering medical aid or identifying bodies post-battle. “These chaplains would be stretcher-bearers...and bury the dead,” Cecil explained.
Volunteer organizations like Knights of Columbus contributed by sending resources and organizing canteens for soldiers. “Many volunteer organizations arose...to support soldiers and chaplains,” said Cecil.
To enhance visitor experience, Cecil designed parts of the exhibit with immersive elements like a room resembling a bombed-out French church from WWI.
The exhibit includes Mass kits, vestments, and sacred objects used by chaplains during wartime. “On their own, these objects are so beautiful...instilled with such spiritual meaning,” Cecil commented.
Father Angelo Roncalli's story is particularly significant within this context. His wartime experience influenced his later actions during WWII and his call for Vatican II reforms. “All of these saintly moments were influenced deep down from his experiences in World War I,” stated Cecil.
Jack Figge reports for OSV News from Kansas City.
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