“Winds of war continue to blow icy upon humanity.” That’s the complaint Pope Francis did for blessing Urbi et orbi of Christmas given by the central lodge of the Basilica of St. Peter. Bergoglio, who showed himself to be in the best of shape and wanted to read his speech standing up, returned once more to the drama of the war Ukraineas he had done in the sermon at the Christmas Eve mass, which he celebrated in the Vatican Basilica. A theme that has marked the pontificate of Francis since the beginning of the conflict.
“If we want it to be Christmas, the Christmas of Jesus and of peace,” said the Pope, “let’s see Bethlehem and let us fix our eyes on the face of the child who was born for us! And in that innocent little face we see that of the children yearning for peace in every part of the world. Our eyes are filled with the faces of the Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are experiencing this Christmas in the darkin the cold or away from their homes, because of destruction caused by a ten-month war. The Lord make us ready for it concrete gestures of solidarity to help those who suffer and to enlighten the minds of those who have the power to do something silence the guns and end it immediately this senseless war! Unfortunately, we prefer to listen to other reasons dictated by the logic of the world. But the voice of the child, who hears it?”.
Francis emphasized that “our time is experiencing one severe famine of peace also in other regions, at other scenes of this Third World War. Let’s think about it Syria, still tormented by a conflict that has receded into the background but is not yet over; and let’s think about it Holy Land, where violence and clashes have increased in recent months with deaths and injuries. We beg the Lord that there, in the land where he was born, dialogue and the search for mutual trust between Palestinians and Israelis will resume. baby jesus Supporting the Christian communities that live everywhere middle East, so that in each of these countries we can experience the beauty of fraternal coexistence between people of different faiths. Especially those help Lebanonso that it can finally recover, with the support of international community and with the power of brotherhood and solidarity. May the light of Christ illuminate the region Sahel, where peaceful coexistence between peoples and traditions is disturbed by clashes and violence. Move towards a lasting truce in the Yemen and for reconciliation in the Burma and in Iranto stop all the bloodshed. May you inspire the political authorities and all people of good will in the Americas to work towards the pacification of political and social tensions in different countries; I think in particular Haitian population who has suffered for a long time”.
In addition, Bergoglio recalled that “on this day it is nice to gather around the loaded tablelet’s not take our eyes off Bethlehemwhat does that mean ‘bread house‘, and we think of the people who they are starving, especially children, while large amounts of food are wasted and resources are expended on weapons every day. The war in Ukraine has continued made the situation worseputting entire populations at risk famineespecially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa. Every war, we know, causes hunger and exploits food itself as a weapon to prevent its distribution to already suffering populations. On this day, learning from the Prince of Peace, let us all commit, those who did first political responsibility, because food is just an instrument of peace. As we bask in the joy of being reunited with our own, we think of the families who are most hurt by life and those who are affected at this time Economic crisisstruggling with unemployment and lacking in the basic necessities of life”.
Finally, the Pope’s thoughts turned to the many rejected by society: “Today, as then, Jesus, the true light, comes into a world sick with indifference – severe disease! – who does not welcome it, rather rejecting it, as happens to many foreigners, or ignoring it, as we all too often do with the poor. Let’s not forget the many today refugees and refugees knocking on our doors in search of comfort, warmth and food. Let us not forget the marginalized, the lonely, the orphans and the elderly – the wisdom of a people – who are in danger of being singled out, the prisoners whom we consider only because of their faults and not as human beings”.
Twitter: @FrancescoGrana