Christmas Blessing Urbi et Orbi: Pope urges care for the children of the world

Last updated: Thu 31 Mar 2022 PM

On December 25, 2019, Pope Francis pronounced his traditional Christmas blessing, surrounded by Cardinal Renato Martino, Protodioacre, and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Apostolic Chaplain.

On this Christmas Day, Jesus was born, "like a little flame lit in the darkness and cold of the night," explained Pope Francis.

"This Child, born of the Virgin Mary, is the Word of God made flesh," explained the Bishop of Rome. The Word that guided Abraham's heart and steps towards the promised land, and continues to attract those who trust in God's promises. The Word that guided the Hebrews on the path from slavery to freedom, and continues to call the slaves of all times, even today, to come out of their prisons. It is a Word brighter than the sun, embodied in a little son of man, Jesus, light of the world."

"There is darkness in human hearts, but the greater the light of Christ. There is darkness in personal, family, social relationships, but the greater the light of Christ. There is darkness in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, but the greater the light of Christ," Francis hammered out, before reviewing various international situations.

Special attention to the Middle East

"May Christ be light for the many children who suffer war and conflict in the Middle East and in various countries of the world. May He be the comfort of the beloved Syrian people who do not yet see the end of the hostilities that have torn the country apart in this decade. May He shake the consciences of men of good will. May He inspire the rulers and the international community today to find solutions that guarantee the security and peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the region and put an end to their unspeakable sufferings. May He be a support for the Lebanese people, so that they may emerge from the current crisis and rediscover their vocation to be a messenger of freedom and harmonious coexistence for all," added Francis, referring to the troubled situation in the Land of the Cedars in recent weeks.

"May the Lord Jesus be light for the Holy Land where He was born, the Saviour of mankind, and where many people, tired but not discouraged, continue to wait for days of peace, security and prosperity. May He be the consolation for Iraq, which is going through social tensions, and for Yemen, which is experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis. I am thinking of the children of Yemen," added François as he left his text, as the conflict that is tearing apart this country in the south of the Arabian Peninsula has caused a famine that particularly affects children.

A look at the unrest in Latin America

"May the little Child of Bethlehem be a hope for the entire American Continent, where several nations are going through a period of social and political turmoil," said the Pope, referring without explicitly naming the country, to the unrest that has shaken Chile in particular in recent weeks. "May he strengthen the dear Venezuelan people, long tried by political and social tensions, and may he not make them miss the help they need. May He bless the efforts of all those who are committed to justice and reconciliation and are striving to overcome the many crises and forms of poverty that offend the dignity of every person".

"May He be the light, the Redeemer of the world, for dear Ukraine, which aspires to concrete solutions for a lasting peace," stressed the Bishop of Rome, who supports diplomatic efforts to end the Donbass war.

An invitation to peace in Africa

"May the Lord who was born be the light for the peoples of Africa, where social and political situations persist which often force people to emigrate, depriving them of a home and a family. May He be peace for the people who live in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, scarred by persistent conflicts. May He be comfort to all those who suffer because of violence, natural calamities or health emergencies. May He be a comfort to all those who are persecuted because of their religious faith, especially missionaries and faithful who have been kidnapped, and to all those who fall victim to attacks by extremist groups, especially in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria," the Pope stressed, while West Africa remains regularly shaken by violence, again on 24 December in Burkina Faso, where 35 civilians, including many women, lost their lives.

The Pope also addressed the often tragic situation of migrants. "It is injustice that forces them to cross deserts and seas that have been turned into cemeteries. It is injustice that forces them to suffer unspeakable abuses, slavery of all kinds and torture in inhuman detention camps. It is injustice that drives them away from places where they could have hope of a dignified life and makes them find walls of indifference," he said.

Softening our hardened and selfish hearts

"May the Emmanuel be light for all wounded humanity. May he soften our often hardened and selfish hearts and may he make us instruments of his love. That through our poor faces He may give His smile to the children of the world: to those who are abandoned and to those who have suffered violence. Through our poor weak arms, may He clothe the poor who have nothing to cover themselves with, may He give bread to the hungry, may He heal the sick. Through our frail company, may He be close to the elderly and those who are alone, to migrants and the marginalized. On this feast day, may He give His tenderness to all and enlighten the darkness of this world," the Holy Father concluded.

Speaking after the prayer of the Angelus, Francis renewed his Christmas greetings to all those present and to all those who listened to him through various channels of communication. "We are all called to give hope to the world, announcing with words and above all with the witness of our lives that Jesus, our peace, is born," the Pope recalled.

Source: Vatican News