In a message sent exclusively to Vatican News and L'Osservatore Romano, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem invites us to recognize one another as brother and sister, for this is the meaning of the Incarnation of God. He calls us to open ourselves to dialogue, reconciliation, forgiveness and friendship, as many people in the Holy Land are already doing. It is necessary to “lift up our eyes and see the work of God that is being done.”
Roberto Cetera and Antonella Palermo News from the Vatican
From the wounded heart of the land where Jesus was born, the Christmas message of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, reaches exclusively Vatican News and L'Osservatore Romano.
Embedded in a sea of hate
Pizzaballa's thinking begins by considering the vortex of violence that seems to dominate the planet and then focuses on what is happening in the Holy Land. “It seems that the whole world is living a moment of great difficulty in which violence, hatred, division and feelings of revenge prevail.” These are his words in the video sent to the Vatican media. The Patriarch expresses concern about the situation “in Northern Europe” and then focuses on the Middle East: “Since October 7th we have been immersed in a sea of hatred, resentment, revenge and death.” “A hatred that is the Israeli Society and now also affects Palestinian society.” The cardinal cares about what is happening in Gaza, but he also thinks about “our small Christian community in Bethlehem,” he emphasizes.
Saying yes to God means opening yourself to reconciliation
Aware of “situations of great difficulty in which everyone is closed in their pain”, Pizzaballa underlines the unmistakable meaning of Christmas: “God comes to us, makes himself present for us and opens our hearts to the encounter with others, to recognize the other an important part of ourselves”. This leads us to consider Christmas in all its unarmed and unchanged meaning. “Despite all this great violence, we must not forget that the message of Christmas remains perhaps even more important than ever at this moment. God becomes flesh out of love remember and gives us a new way of being in the world, which is to give life for love, for others.” The noise of the weapons cannot distract from the fact, continues Cardinal Pizzaballa continues that “it is also Christmas here in the Holy Land, where there are people who say yes to God, yes to their brother and their sister. “Why say yes to God?” He emphasizes, “means recognizing the other, the brother and sister and being ready to open to dialogue, to say yes to reconciliation, yes to forgiveness, yes to friendship.”
Move beyond the present pain and see God's work
On this solemn day, the Patriarch addresses first of all to his Church, but also to all who hear this message and “look to this Holy Land”. The painful but conclusive invitation is expressed with the clear tone of one who trusts in the certainty that the Lord will not abandon him. “We must lift our gaze, look beyond the present pain and see the work of God that is being accomplished. Because Jesus is really that boy, he is really the Lord of history, the personal history of each of us and all the history of the world. Despite everything, it is time to proclaim that we “believe in Him.” “Today is Christmas,” the cardinal announces and calls on everyone to do the same. “God bless everyone,” he concludes.