Angelus: Pope urges the faithful to celebrate Christmas with ‘simplicity', close to ‘those who suffer’ from war
Today, the fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve, Pope Francis mentioned Palestine, Israel, and Ukraine. Let us “think of those who suffer,” he said, and “let us not confuse celebration with consumerism!” suggesting the path of "simplicity" for this time of the year.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – On this Sunday, the fourth of Advent and Christmas Eve, Pope Francis urged the faithful at the end of the Angelus to be close at this time of celebration to the people in the world who suffer from war.
"Palestine, Israel, and Ukraine," he said this morning from the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, are places that go towards Christmas without peace. Let us “also think of those who suffer from misery, from hunger, from slavery,” he said.
Francis expressed hope that this may be a day lived “in prayer, in the warmth of affection, and in soberness. Let me make one recommendation: let us not confuse celebration with consumerism,” he explained. Instead, for Christians, the path to follow this Christmas is that of simplicity, “without waste, and by sharing with those who lack necessities or lack companionship.”
This Sunday the Holy Father asked God, who "took a human heart for Himself [to] infuse humanity into the hearts of men!”
Before his address following the recitation of the Marian prayer, he greeted those present, “Romans and pilgrims from Italy and from various parts of the world.”
He singled out for a special greeting a large delegation of Italians in St Peter’s Square from areas “officially recognised as highly polluted and who have long awaited their clean-up.”
The delegation was accompanied by a long banner that read: “From the S.I.N. (Sites of National Interest), we demand justice, remediation, and a change in the protection of the environment and health”.
“I express solidarity with these populations and hope that their voices will be heard,” the Holy Father said.
Before the Angelus, the Pope gave his thoughts about the Word of the day, centred on the Annunciation according to the Evangelist Luke (Lk 1:26-38). In his remarks, he focused on the image of the shadow.
The angel told Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (v. 35).
The shadow is an element of great importance in the "perpetually sunny" land where the Virgin lived. Indeed, “a passing cloud, a tree that resists drought and offers shelter, or a hospitable tent can bring relief and protection,” he explained.
Shade is thus “a gift that refreshes,” which the angel says is when “the Holy Spirit descends upon Mary, and that this is God’s way of acting,” as He “always acts as a gentle love that embraces, that fertilises, that protects, without doing violence, without infringing freedom.”
The shadow, the Pontiff explained, reflects “God’s kindness,” an attitude that everyone can adopt during the Christmas holidays, as well as at every stage of life; “for example, when among friends, couples, spouses, parents and children, we are gentle, we are respectful, caring for others”.
The pontiff also urged the faithful to imitate God’s kindness, to think about everyone, especially “those who are marginalised” and “those who are far from the joy of Christmas these days.”
Lastly, the pope ended with two questions for the faithful: First, whether on this Christmas Eve, they want to leave each other “enveloped by the shadow of the Holy Spirit, by the gentleness and meekness of God, by the kindness of the God, making room for Him in my heart,” secondly; whether they could “be a refreshing shadow, a comforting friendship” for “lonely and needy people”.
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