Pope saddened by the arms race, which is not the way
During the Angelus Francis appealed for peace in Ukraine and blessed the statues of the Child Jesus (Bambinelli) for the Christmas nativity scenes. “Let’s choose something concrete,” said the Pope, “that is adapted to our situation in life, and let’s continue doing it to prepare us for this Christmas.” He concluded offering his best wishes to Caritas Internationalis for its 70th anniversary.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – At the end of the Angelus, Francis spoke in St. Peter's Square against the arms race. “A statistic I read recently saddens me greatly: more weapons were produced this year than last year. Weapons are not the right path,” he said.
In his address, the pontiff also made an appeal for the Ukraine, its Churches and its people, expressing hope “that the tensions it is experiencing might be resolved through a serious international dialogue and not with weapons.”
Francis focused on Christmas in the Angelus, which was recited in front of a square full of young people holding statues of the Child Jesus to be placed in nativity scenes, which the pontiff blessed.
Commenting on the Gospel in today's liturgy, the Pope focused on the question that people addressed to John the Baptist: “What then should we do?” (Lk 3:10). Such a question, Francis said, “does not stem from a sense of duty,” but from “enthusiasm for His coming”.
“God elevates this question to a higher level: what should I do with my life? What am I called to? What will I become?” Thus, “By suggesting this question, the Gospel reminds us of something important: life has a task for us. Life is not meaningless; it is not left up to chance.”
Advent asks us this question with special vigour. “The Advent Season is meant for this: to stop and ask ourselves how to prepare for Christmas. We are so busy with all the preparations, with gifts and things that pass. But let us ask ourselves what we should do for Jesus and for others!”
“[T]he Gospel lists John the Baptist’s responses that are different for each group. [. . .] He directs a specific word to each person that responds to their actual situation in life” because “faith is incarnated in concrete life. It is not an abstract theory.”
From this follows the question addressed to everyone: “How can I do my part?” The answer is “Let’s choose something concrete, even if it is small, that is adapted to our situation in life, and let’s continue doing it to prepare us for this Christmas. For example: I can call a person who is alone, visit that elderly person or that person who is ill, do something to serve a poor person, someone in need.
More still, “maybe I need to ask forgiveness, grant forgiveness, clarify a situation, pay a debt. Perhaps I have neglected prayer and after so much time has elapsed, it’s time to ask the Lord for forgiveness. Brothers and sisters, let’s find something concrete and do it!”
After the Angelus, the Pope offered his prayers for the victims of the tornadoes that struck Kentucky, United States, and warmly greeted the many Latin American faithful present in St Peter's Square to recite the rosary to Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day.
“May the Virgin,” Francis told them, “move us toward conversion and the renewal of the Church and of society that we need so much in the Americas”.
Finally, the pontiff concluded his address by offering his best wishes to Caritas Internationalis, “the Church’s loving hand outstretched to the poor and the most vulnerable", which is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
“I invite you to carry your service forward with humility and creativity,” said Francis, “continue your work in streamlining the organisation so that the money doesn’t go to the organisation but to the poor.”
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12/12/2019 23:33
