The birth of the Prince of Peace in Bethlehem is not a fairy tale – Pope

(December 21, 2009) The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, reminds us that Christmas, "is not a children's fairy tale, but God's answer to the human drama in search of real peace": this was Pope Benedict XVI’s message to pilgrims gathered for the midday ‘Angelus’ prayer in St Peter's Square on the 4^th and last Sunday of Advent before Christmas on Friday. Commenting on the prophet Micah from Sunday’s liturgical reading, the Pope spoke of God’s plan of the coming of the Son of God in the world in Bethlehem. "Bethlehem is .... a city-symbol of peace in the Holy Land and throughout the world,” the Pope noted, but lamented that “nowadays, it has not achieved a stable peace, that is arduously sought after and desired”. Despite all this, he explained, “God never resigns himself to this state of things.” The Holy Father said that this year too in Bethlehem and throughout the world, the mystery of Christmas will be renewed, enjoining all Christians “to become messengers and instruments of peace everywhere, to bring love where there is hatred, forgiveness where there is offence, joy where there is sadness and truth where there is error, according to the beautiful words of a famous Franciscan prayer”. "Today, as in the time of Jesus - concluded the pope - Christmas is not a children's story, but God's answer to the human drama in search of real peace.