Pope Sunday 'Angelus' of Jan. 4

(January 5, 2009) Saying that "War and hatred are not the solution to any problem", Pope Benedict XVI once more called on Israelis and Palestinians on Sunday to immediately end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Speaking to pilgrims after the weekly midday ‘angelus’ prayer in St. Peter's Square, the pontiff also reminded all that Christian leaders in the Holy Land had dedicated the first Sunday of 2009 to pray for the end of the conflict and for justice and peace. His 3^rd appeal to Israelis and Palestinians this Christmas season came after the Israeli army began a ground offensive into in the Gaza Strip following a week of intense air and missile attacks on targets across Gaza. Israel says its intentions are to suppress Palestinian militant rocket attacks, which have killed five Israelis since the start of the campaign. "The dramatic news that comes to us from Gaza," the pope said, "demonstrates how the rejection of dialogue leads to situations with untold impact on populations that are once again the victims of hatred and war." Pope Benedict XVI his participation in the Day of prayer on Sunday called for by the Christian leaders in Jerusalem and also urged other to join in, remembering 'the victims, the injured, those with broken hearts, who live in anguish and fear, that God may bless them with the consolation, patience, and peace that come from Him.”
Before the ‘Angelus’, Pope Benedict reflected on the prologue of the Gospel of John in Sunday’s Mass readings. The Pope said "It is not the learned word of a rabbi or a doctor of the law, but the impassioned testimony of a humble fishermen who, attracted as a young man by Jesus of Nazareth, over three years of life together with Him and the other apostles experienced his love. Drawing from an intimate and first-hand experience of Jesus’ death on the cross, His resurrection and then imbued with His Spirit, John was profoundly convinced that Jesus was the Wisdom of God incarnate, He was His Eternal Word made mortal man." "Every man and every woman," the Pope said, "needs to find a deeper meaning for his or her own existence. And for this books are not enough, not even the sacred Scriptures. The Child of Bethlehem reveals to us and communicates to us the true 'face' of the good and faithful God, who loves us and does not abandon us, not even in death”, the Pope added.
After the ‘angelus’ Pope Benedict also greeted participants in a 5-day international congress organized by the Society of Don Bosco, or Salesians, on Don Bosco’s Preventive System and human rights and. The Jan. 2-6 meeting is taking place at the Salesian Generalate in Rome. Pope Benedict said that the theme is very important as the issue of education is decisive in the field of human rights. Don Bosco, a 19^th century Italian priest and educator of youth evolved a system of education called the Preventive System, by which through reason, religion and kindness he gave young people a solid spiritual, moral and human foundation to be good Christians and useful citizens of society. On Monday, some 300 participants in the international congress expressed their solidarity with the Holy Father in adhering to the call by the Patriarchs and the leaders of the Christian Churches in Jerusalem to pray for an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinians and for justice and peace in their land. In a statement, the congress expressed awareness that in the continuing crisis in the Gaza Strip and others in progress in different countries in the world, the first victims are the weakest whose fundamental human rights are being denied. Participants hoped that the international community will intervene with courage so that an end may be put to all violence and the path of dialogue be pursued again, so that every individual may have “the right to life, liberty and security of person.”
During his Sunday 'Angelus' Pope Benedict also addressed English-speaking pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square. Listen:
"I cordially greet all the English-speaking visitors gathered for this Angelus prayer! In these first days of the New Year, as the Church celebrates the birth of the Saviour, let us pray that the peace proclaimed by the angels at Bethlehem will take ever deeper root in human hearts, banish all discord and violence, and inspire the human family to live in harmony and solidarity. Upon you and your loved ones I invoke the Lord’s abundant blessings!"