Pope Benedict XVI has prayed for dialogue and reconciliation in the world; in the
Holy Land, in Somalia, Ivory Coast and Sudan, in North and South Korea. He has prayed
for an end to the suffering of the people of Haiti, and respect for human rights in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also had a special thought for Iraqi Catholics that their
”suffering be eased” and that they may "not lose heart” and for the people of China
"for restrictions on their freedom of religion and conscience”.
These are
just some of Pope Benedict XVI’s wishes this Christmas, expressed in the Urbi et
Orbi message, to the city of Rome and to the world. 50 thousand people crowded
St Peter's Square, transforming it into a tapestry of brightly coloured umbrellas,
under a steely grey sky. They sung Christmas carols and held aloft their flags, from
Mexico and Poland, from Spain, Australia, the Philippines and the United States of
America.
Then at noon, the red velvet drapes of St Peter’s central balcony
parted and to tremendous applause, the pontifical gendarme band struck up the anthem
of Vatican City State as Pope Benedict appeared. He began as is tradition: “The
Word became flesh”. To this unfathomable mystery he said “there is only one answer:
Love. Children seek it with their questions, so disarming and stimulating; young
people seek it in their eagerness to discover the deepest meaning of their life; adults
seek it in order to guide and sustain their commitments in the family and the workplace;
the elderly seek it in order to grant completion to their earthly existence”.
Christmas,
embodied in an infant child, continued the Pope, “is a source of hope for everyone
whose dignity is offended and violated, since the one born in Bethlehem came to set
every man and woman free from the source of all enslavement”.
Then he prayed
“May the light of Christmas shine forth anew in the Land where Jesus was born, and
inspire Israelis and Palestinians to strive for a just and peaceful coexistence.
May the comforting message of the coming of Emmanuel ease the pain and bring consolation
amid their trials to the beloved Christian communities in Iraq and throughout the
Middle East; may it bring them comfort and hope for the future and bring the leaders
of nations to show them effective solidarity. May it also be so for those in Haiti
who still suffer in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and the recent cholera
epidemic…..May the birth of the Saviour open horizons of lasting peace and authentic
progress for the peoples of Somalia, Darfur and Côte d’Ivoire;….may it advance reconciliation
on the Korean peninsula”.
“May the birth of the Saviour strengthen the spirit
of faith, patience and courage of the faithful of the Church in mainland China, that
they may not lose heart through the limitations imposed on their freedom of religion
and conscience but, persevering in fidelity to Christ and his Church, may keep alive
the flame of hope. May the love of “God-with-us” grant perseverance to all those
Christian communities enduring discrimination and persecution, and inspire political
and religious leaders to be committed to full respect for the religious freedom of
all”.
At the end of the message the Holy Father sent Christmas greetings across
the world via television and radio, in over 60 languages, including Russian, Arabic,
Hebrew, Armenian, Hindi, Tamil, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Irish and of course English:
“May the birth of the Prince of Peace remind the world where its true happiness lies;
and may your hearts be filled with hope and joy, for the Saviour has been born for
us”.
The prayer for peace was at the heart of celebration’s Christmas Eve.
During Midnight Mass, the Kalenda or Christmas proclamation was sung, and prayers
were said for respect of human dignity from conception to natural death, and for political
leaders so they may operate in favour of a peaceful coexistence between peoples; earlier
in the afternoon, the Pope appeared at the window of his study to bless the Nativity
Scene in St. Peter's Square and light the candle, "light of peace", placed on his
windowsill, according to Polish tradition dear to John Paul II.
In a basilica
packed to overflowing with more than ten thousand people gathered at the Christmas
Mass, the Pope spoke of that night in Bethlehem, when " the infinite distance between
God and man is overcome”. “Part of this night is simply joy at God’s closeness”, he
said, “but this joy is also a prayer: Lord, make your promise come fully true”. “Break
the rods of the oppressors. Burn the tramping boots. Let the time of the garments
rolled in blood come to an end. Fulfil the prophecy that “of peace there will be
no end”. Listen to the full report by Emer McCarthy: