Pope says Advent shows hope of peace is possible

December 02, 2013 - As Christians worldwide ushered in the Advent season on Sunday, Pope Francis appealed for an end to all wars, expressing his firm hope that the weapons of war will be transformed into instruments of work. Addressing a large crowd of pilgrims and visitors in St. Peter’s Square in Rome who came to pray the weekly midday “Angelus” with him, the Pope twice read a passage by the prophet Isaiah, from Sunday Mass: "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again." “But when will this happen?” the Pope asked and wondered what a great day it will be when weapons will be dismantled, t be transformed into instruments of work. “And this is possible!” the Pope stressed adding “we bet on the hope of peace it will be possible.” Reminding all about the first Sunday of the new season of Advent in preparation for Christmas, the Pope evoked the vision of Isaiah of the people of God walking up to the mountain of the Lord. “This journey has not ended,” he said. “The season of Advent, which we begin again today, gives us a horizon of hope, hope that does not disappoint because it is founded on the Word of God, for the Lord never disappoints: He is faithful, He will not disappoint,” the Pope added.