Looking at the past year "we are challenged to see if the events of the world are made according to the will of God, or if we listened mainly to projects of men, often loaded with private interests, of insatiable lust for power and gratuitous violence ". Rome recovers "the core values of service, integrity and solidarity can overcome the serious uncertainties that have dominated this year, and which are symptoms of weakened sense of dedication to the common good."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Good things do not make news", but also the year that is ending, well marked "by violence, death, untold suffering of many innocent people, of refugees forced to leave their homeland, of men, women and children with no fixed abode, food and livelihood ", there were" great acts of kindness, love and solidarity. " And "These signs of love can not and should not be obscured by the arrogance of evil. The good always wins, even if at some point it may appear weaker and hidden”.

Not a taking stock, but a statement of confidence in the presence and in the mercy of God in the words of Pope Francis during his celebration, this afternoon in St. Peter’s Basilica of the first Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, which was followed by the traditional Te Deum of thanksgiving at the end of the year.

"It is - he said - the joy of thanksgiving that spontaneously flows from our prayer, to recognize the loving presence of God in the events of our history. As often happens, however, we feel that prayer is not enough, just our voice. It needs to be reinforced in the company of all the people of God, who in unison feel this song of thanksgiving. This is why in the Te Deum we ask the help of the angels, the prophets, and all creation to give praise to the Lord. With this hymn, we retrace the history of salvation where, through God's mysterious design, the various events of our life this past year find synthesis and place. In this Jubilee Year the final words of the hymn of the Church take on a special resonance: "Be always with us, O Lord, Your mercy, for in You we have hoped." The company of mercy is light by which to better understand how we have lived, and it is also a hope that accompanies us at the beginning of a New year”.

"We can go back over the days of the past year - he continued - either as a memory of facts and events that bring moments of joy and pain, or as a means to try to understand if we felt the presence of God who makes all things new. We are challenged to see if the events of the world are made according to the will of God, or if we listened mainly to projects of men, often loaded with private interests and an insatiable thirst for power and violence. And yet, today our eyes need to focus in particular on signs that God has given us, to see first-hand the power of His merciful love. We cannot forget that many days have been marked by violence, death, by the untold suffering of many innocent people, of refugees forced to leave their homeland, of men, women and children with no fixed abode, food and sustenance. Yet, how many great acts of kindness, love and solidarity have filled the days of this year, although it they may never have made the news! Good things do not make news. These tokens of love cannot and should not be obscured by the arrogance of evil. The good always wins, even if at some point it may appear weaker and hidden”.

"Our city of Rome - he continued - is no stranger to this condition of the world. I wish all of this city’s inhabitants would embrace the sincere invitation to go beyond the difficulties of the present moment. To join efforts to recover the core values ​​of service, integrity and solidarity, that can overcome the serious uncertainties that have dominated this year, and which are symptoms of weak sense of dedication to the common good. May the positive contribution of Christian witness never be lacking to allow Rome, according to her history, and through the maternal intercession of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, to be the privileged interpreter of faith, hospitality, brotherhood and peace”.

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