The ‘other’ is one such place, Francis said, “our fellow human beings” who since Jesus’ birth, bear “the likeness of the Son of God.” This is followed by History in which God “messes up the cards.” Then comes the Church, “a mother who, despite spots and wrinkles, [. . .] reveals the features of the Bride loved and purified by Christ the Lord.” The pontiff calls for peace in Syria and Nicaragua, and a prayer for Indians affected by flooding. He also performs the traditional blessing of the figures of the Baby Jesus.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Before today’s Angelus, Pope Francis spoke about the ‘other’, History and the Church as "places of wonder", where Christians must dwell if they want to celebrate Christmas in a fruitful manner.

Today was also the Jubilee of the children of the Roman oratories. When the latter brought forth their ‘Bambinelli’, the figures of the Baby Jesus, he blessed them, and said, “Dear children, listen carefully: when you pray in front of your crèche, remember me as I remember you. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!"

Before the prayer, Francis spoke about the Gospel of the fourth Sunday of Advent, namely Mary's visit to Elizabeth. "When the two women met – think about them, one old and one young – it is the young Mary who greets the other first:  ‘she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth’ (Lk, 1:40). After the greeting, Elizabeth felt enveloped by wonder. Do not forget this word, wonder. Elizabeth felt enraptured by this wonder, which resonates in her words: ‘And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?' Then they hugged, and kissed. These two women were full of joy – the old and the young – both pregnant.”

In order to celebrate Christmas constructively, "we are called to dwell in 'places' of wonder,” the pontiff said. “What are these places of wonder in everyday life? There are three of them.

“The first one is the ‘other’, i.e. our fellow humans whom we recognise because, since Jesus’ birth, every face bears the likeness of the Son of God. This is especially so in the faces of poor people because God entered the world poor and let the poor approach him first."

If we look with faith, another place of wonder is History. "So many times we think we see it the right way; instead, we risk reading it backwards. This happens when it seems determined by the market economy, regulated by finance and business, dominated by the latest powers that be. Conversely, the God of Christmas is a God who 'messes up the cards.' He likes to do that. As Mary sings in the Magnificat, the Lord cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted the lowly, filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed."

A third place of wonder "is the Church. Looking at it with the wonder of faith means not just looking at it as a religious institution, but have feelings for it like a mother who, despite spots and wrinkles, and we have many, reveals the features of the Bride loved and purified by Christ the Lord. Such a Church knows how to recognise the many signs of faithful love that God continually sends. For such a Church, the Lord Jesus will never be a possession to guard jealously. Those who do so are wrong. He is always the one who comes to meet it with trust and joy, giving voice to hope in the world.

“The Church that calls on the Lord [says], 'Come, Lord Jesus!' The mother Church always has its doors and arms open to welcome everyone. Indeed, the Mother Church comes out of its doors with a mother’s smile to look for all those who are faraway away in order to bring them towards God’s mercy. This is the wonder of Christmas."

At Christmas, Francis said before the prayer, "God gives us all of Himself by giving his one and only Son, who is all his joy. Only with the heart of Mary – the humble and poor daughter of Zion who became the Mother of the Son of the Highest – can one rejoice and be glad for God’s great gift and for his unexpected surprise. May she help us see the wonder of Jesus’ birth, the gift of gifts, the undeserved gift that brings us salvation, which will also make us feel this great wonder in the encounter with Jesus. Yet, we cannot have such an experience if we do not encounter Him in the ‘other’, in history and in the Church."

Right after the prayer, the pope appealed for peace in Syria. "Even today I would like to remember beloved Syria, and express my deep appreciation for the agreement just reached by the international community. I encourage everyone to continue their generous efforts towards ending the violence and reach a negotiated settlement leading to peace. My thoughts also go to Libya, where the recent commitment by stakeholders towards a government of national unity has raised our hope for the future."

Similarly, Francis also expressed his support for “the efforts of co-operation to which Costa Rica and Nicaragua are called. I hope that a renewed spirit of brotherhood will further strengthen dialogue and mutual cooperation, including all the countries of the region.

“At present, my thoughts also go to the dear people of India, affected recently by severe flooding. Let us pray for those brothers and sisters who suffer because of this disaster. Let us entrust the souls of the dead to God's mercy. Let us recite a Hail Mary to the Virgin Mary for all those brothers and sisters in India." The people assembled in St Peter’s Square joined the pope to recite the prayer.

Right after the greetings, Francis said, "Today the first greeting is for the children of Rome. These children known how to make noise, don’t they? They came for the traditional blessing of the ‘Bambinelli’ (the figures of Baby Jesus), organised by the Centro Oratori Romani (Roman Oratories Centre). Dear children, listen carefully: when you pray in front of your crèche, remember me as I remember you. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!"

Finally, the pope greeted the families of the ‘Figli in cielo’ (Children in Heaven) community, and those associated, by hope and in pain, to Rome’s Bambin Gesù Hospital. “Dear parents, I assure you of my spiritual closeness and encourage you to continue on your journey of faith and brotherhood."

• vatican
• angelus
• pope
• francis