Pope: Christmas, glory to the merciful God, and peace to people tormented by war and violence
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - In his first Christmas message, Pope Francis focused on all the torments of the world and not just those caused by conflict, bidding us to "give glory to God for He is good, He is faithful [and] He is merciful". May He grant "peace to men" in places plagued by war like Syria, or by violence, in Africa or Iraq - where once again a bomb killed at least 15 Christians in Baghdad as they left church last night - or in search of negotiations, like the Holy Land. The Holy Father also urged the faithful to pray that God may "touch the hearts" of those engaged in human trafficking or child soldiers, that migrants may find acceptance and those affected by natural disasters, like the people of the Philippines, may find relief. "Lord of life, protect those who are persecuted for your name."
In his address, the pontiff looked at the sorrows of the world in the light of the hope offered by the birth of Jesus. Last night, during Midnight Mass, the faithful prayed in various languages, including Chinese and Aramaic, the language in which they prayed for all Christians persecuted for their faith.
Last night, the Pope carried the Christ Child in procession and put him in the crèche (pictured). Today he also reminded the more than 100,000 people present in St Peter's Square that Christmas is above all a time to give "Glory to God."
"Today I voice my hope that everyone will come to know the true face of God, the Father who has given us Jesus. My hope is that everyone will feel God's closeness, live in his presence, love him and adore him."
"May each of us give glory to God above all by our lives, by lives spent for love of him and of all our brothers and sisters."
This was followed by a call for "peace to mankind."
"True peace is not a balance of opposing forces. It is not a lovely 'façade' that conceals conflicts and divisions. Peace calls for daily commitment, starting from God's gift, from the grace which he has given us in Jesus Christ."
"Looking at the Child in the manger, our thoughts turn to those children who are the most vulnerable victims of wars, but our thoughts also go to too the elderly, the battered women, the sick . . . . Wars shatter and hurt so many lives!" Indeed, "Too many lives have been shattered in recent times by the conflict in Syria, fuelling hatred and vengeance. Let us continue to ask the Lord to spare the beloved Syrian people further suffering, and to enable the parties in conflict to put an end to all violence and guarantee access to humanitarian aid."
"We have seen how powerful prayer is! And I am happy today too, that the followers of different religious confessions are joining us in our prayer for peace in Syria. Let us never lose the courage of prayer! The courage to say: Lord, grant your peace to Syria and to the whole world."
"Grant peace to the Central African Republic, often forgotten and overlooked. Yet you, Lord, forget no one! And you also want to bring peace to that land, torn apart by a spiral of violence and poverty, where so many people are homeless, lacking water, food and the bare necessities of life. Foster social harmony in South Sudan, where current tensions have already caused numerous victims and are threatening peaceful coexistence in that young state."
"Prince of Peace, in every place turn hearts aside from violence and inspire them to lay down arms and undertake the path of dialogue. Look upon Nigeria, rent by constant attacks that do not spare the innocent and defenceless. Bless the land where you chose to come into the world, and grant a favourable outcome to the peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. Heal the wounds of the beloved country of Iraq, once more struck by frequent acts of violence."
"Lord of life, protect all who are persecuted for your name. Grant hope and consolation to the displaced and refugees, especially in the Horn of Africa and in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Grant that migrants in search of a dignified life may find acceptance and assistance. May tragedies like those we have witnessed this year, with so many deaths at Lampedusa, never occur again!"
"Child of Bethlehem, touch the hearts of all those engaged in human trafficking, that they may realize the gravity of this crime against humanity. Look upon the many children who are kidnapped, wounded and killed in armed conflicts, and all those who are robbed of their childhood and forced to become soldiers."
"Lord of heaven and earth, look upon our planet, frequently exploited by human greed and rapacity. Help and protect all the victims of natural disasters, especially the beloved people of the Philippines, gravely affected by the recent typhoon."
Christmas, the pontiff noted during Midnight Mass, is not just about emotions, feelings and prayers for peace. Christmas tells us "the reality of what we are", that is a "people on a journey," a people of pilgrims that "does not want to be adrift" because " our identity as believers has been that of a people making its pilgrim way towards the promised land."
"In our personal history too, there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows. If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us."
With the coming of Jesus, grace appeared in the world. He "came to free us from darkness and to grant us light. In him was revealed the grace, the mercy, and the tender love of the Father: Jesus is Love incarnate. He is not simply a teacher of wisdom; he is not an ideal for which we strive while knowing that we are hopelessly distant from it. He is the meaning of life and history, who has pitched his tent in our midst." In addition, "The shepherds were the first to see this "tent", to receive the news of Jesus' birth. They were the first because they were among the last, the outcast."
"On this day illumined by the Gospel hope which springs from the humble stable of Bethlehem, I invoke the Christmas gift of joy and peace upon all: upon children and the elderly, upon young people and families, the poor and the marginalized. May Jesus, who was born for us, console all those afflicted by illness and suffering; may he sustain those who devote themselves to serving our brothers and sisters who are most in need. Happy Christmas!"
.png)
