(Vatican Radio) Pope Benedict XVI has urged people never to loose hope in peace this
Christmas, even in situations of conflict such as Syria, or nations afflicted by terrorism
such as Nigeria, because the “Truth has sprung out of the earth”, with the birth of
Christ.
Below the full text of Pope Benedict XVI’s Message this Christmas
“Veritas de terra orta est!” – “Truth has sprung out of the
earth”(Ps 85:12).
Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout
the world, a happy Christmas to you and your families!
In this Year of
Faith, I express my Christmas greetings and good wishes in these words taken from
one of the Psalms: “Truth has sprung out of the earth”. Actually, in the text of
the Psalm, these words are in the future: “Kindness and truth shall meet; / justice
and peace shall kiss. / Truth shall spring out of the earth, /and justice shall look
down from heaven. / The Lord himself will give his benefits; / our land shall yield
its increase. / Justice shall walk before him, / and salvation, along the way of his
steps” (Ps 85:11-14).
Today these prophetic words have been fulfilled!
In Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, kindness and truth have indeed met;
justice and peace have kissed; truth has sprung out of the earth and justice has looked
down from heaven. Saint Augustine explains with admirable brevity: “What is truth?
The Son of God. What is the earth? The flesh. Ask whence Christ has been born,
and you will see that truth has sprung out of the earth … truth has been born of
the Virgin Mary” (En. in Ps. 84:13). And in a Christmas sermon he says that
“in this yearly feast we celebrate that day when the prophecy was fulfilled: ‘truth
shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven’. The Truth,
which is in the bosom of the Father has sprung out of the earth, to be in the womb
of a mother too. The Truth which rules the whole world has sprung out of the earth,
to be held in the arms of a woman ... The Truth which heaven cannot contain has sprung
out of the earth, to be laid in a manger. For whose benefit did so lofty a God become
so lowly? Certainly not for his own, but for our great benefit, if we believe” (Sermones,
185, 1).
“If we believe”. Here we see the power of faith! God has done
everything; he has done the impossible: he was made flesh. His all-powerful love has
accomplished something which surpasses all human understanding: the Infinite has become
a child, has entered the human family. And yet, this same God cannot enter my heart
unless I open the door to him. Porta fidei! The door of faith! We could
be frightened by this, our inverse omnipotence. This human ability to be closed to
God can make us fearful. But see the reality which chases away this gloomy thought,
the hope that conquers fear: truth has sprung up! God is born! “The
earth has yielded its fruits” (Ps 67:7). Yes, there is a good earth, a healthy
earth, an earth freed of all selfishness and all lack of openness. In this world
there is a good soil which God has prepared, that he might come to dwell among us.
A dwelling place for his presence in the world. This good earth exists, and today
too, in 2012, from this earth truth has sprung up! Consequently, there is hope in
the world, a hope in which we can trust, even at the most difficult times and in the
most difficult situations. Truth has sprung up, bringing kindness, justice and peace.
Yes,
may peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict
which does not spare even the defenceless and reaps innocent victims. Once again
I appeal for an end to the bloodshed, easier access for the relief of refugees and
the displaced, and dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict.
May
peace spring up in the Land where the Redeemer was born, and may he grant Israelis
and Palestinians courage to end to long years of conflict and division, and to embark
resolutely on the path of negotiation.
In the countries of North Africa, which
are experiencing a major transition in pursuit of a new future – and especially the
beloved land of Egypt, blessed by the childhood of Jesus – may citizens work together
to build societies founded on justice and respect for the freedom and dignity of every
person.
May peace spring up on the vast continent of Asia. May the Child
Jesus look graciously on the many peoples who dwell in those lands and, in a special
way, upon all those who believe in him. May the King of Peace turn his gaze to the
new leaders of the People’s Republic of China for the high task which awaits them.
I express my hope that, in fulfilling this task, they will esteem the contribution
of the religions, in respect for each, in such a way that they can help to build a
fraternal society for the benefit of that noble People and of the whole world.
May
the Birth of Christ favour the return of peace in Mali and that of concord in Nigeria,
where savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians.
May the Redeemer bring help and comfort to the refugees from the east of the Democratic
Republic of Congo, and grant peace to Kenya, where brutal attacks have struck the
civilian population and places of worship.
May the Child Jesus bless the great
numbers of the faithful who celebrate him in Latin America. May he increase their
human and Christian virtues, sustain all those forced to leave behind their families
and their land, and confirm government leaders in their commitment to development
and fighting crime.
Dear brothers and sisters! Kindness and truth, justice
and peace have met; they have become incarnate in the child born of Mary in
Bethlehem. That child is the Son of God; he is God appearing in history. His birth
is a flowering of new life for all humanity. May every land become a good earth which
receives and brings forth kindness and truth, justice and peace. Happy Christmas
to all of you!