Pope at 'Urbi et Orbi' prays for
the suffering children of the world
The theme of Pope Francis’ annual Christmas Day “Urbi et
Orbi” Message is “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”.
By Vatican News
Addressing the faithful gathered in the Square on Christmas
Day Pope Francis pronounced his annual “Urbi et Orbi” Message.
Urbi et Orbi, means literally “to the city and to the
world”, and as always, this year the Pope highlighted the plight of many
suffering people and nations across the globe, praying for the peace of the
Lord who has come to save us.
Referring to the theme of this year’s Message, he said that
“There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is greater still.”
There is darkness, he said, in “personal, family and social
relationships, but the light of Christ is greater. There is darkness in
economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, yet greater still is the light
of Christ.”
Middle East
In particular, the Pope turned his attention to the
situation of “the many children suffering from war and conflicts in the Middle
East and in various countries of the world.”
He prayed for comfort for “the beloved Syrian people who
still see no end to the hostilities that have rent their country over the last
decade,” and appealed to governments and to the international community “to find
solutions to allow the peoples of that region to live together in peace and
security, and put an end to their unspeakable sufferings.”
The Pope turned his thoughts to the people of Lebanon who
are struggling to overcome “the current crisis and rediscover their vocation to
be a message of freedom and harmonious coexistence for all.”
He mentioned the Holy Land, where he said, “so many people –
struggling but not discouraged – still await a time of peace, security and
prosperity,” and prayed that the Lord may bring consolation to Iraq “amid its
present social tensions, and to Yemen, suffering from a grave humanitarian
crisis.”
The Americas
Looking further afar, Pope Francis asked that the “tiny Babe
of Bethlehem bring hope to the whole American continent," where he said,
“a number of nations are experiencing a time of social and political upheaval.”
His thoughts went to "the beloved Venezuelan people,
long tried by their political and social tensions,” praying that they may
receive the aid they need.
“May he bless the efforts of those who spare no effort to
promote justice and reconciliation and to overcome the various crises and the
many forms of poverty that offend the dignity of each person,” he said.
Ukraine
The conflict-torn nation of Ukraine was also in Pope
Francis’s thoughts who said: “May the Redeemer of the world bring light to beloved
Ukraine, which yearns for concrete solutions for an enduring peace.”
Africa
And Africa was also in his heart, as he expressed closeness
to its people who are often forced to migrate because of persistent unjust
social and political situations.
“May the Son of God, come down to earth from heaven, protect
and sustain all those who, due to these and other injustices, are forced to
emigrate in the hope of a secure life. It is injustice that makes them
cross deserts and seas that become cemeteries. It is injustice that
forces them to endure unspeakable forms of abuse, enslavement of every kind and
torture in inhumane detention camps. It is injustice that turns them away
from places where they might have hope for a dignified life, but instead find
themselves before walls of indifference.
In particular he mentioned the eastern part of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, “torn by continuing conflicts.”
May the Redeemer, he said, “bring consolation to all who
suffer because of violence, natural disasters or outbreaks of disease.
And may He bring comfort to those who are persecuted for their religious faith,
especially missionaries and members of the faithful who have been kidnapped,
and to the victims of attacks by extremist groups, particularly in Burkina
Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.”
May our hearts be softened
Finally, Pope Francis said, “May Emmanuel bring light to all
the suffering members of our human family. May he soften our often stony
and self-centred hearts, and make them channels of his love. May he bring
his smile, through our poor faces, to all the children of the world: to those
who are abandoned and those who suffer violence.”
Through our frail hands, the Pope concluded, “may He clothe
those who have nothing to wear, give bread to the hungry and heal the
sick. Through our friendship, such as it is, may He draw close to the
elderly and the lonely, to migrants and the marginalized. On this joyful
Christmas Day, may He bring his tenderness to all and brighten the darkness of
this world.”
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