(December 25, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday delivered his special message and
blessing for Christmas 2011. Appearing at midday at the central balcony of Rome’s
St. Peter’s Basilica overlooking St. Peter’s Square he delivered his traditional “Urbi
et Orbi” Christmas message and blessing, and greeted the people of the world in 65
languages. The event was telecast live by numerous networks around the world. The
Latin expression “Urbi et Orbi” means “to the city of Rome and to the world”, as the
Pope is both the bishop of Rome as well as the head of the universal Catholic Church.
The papal “Urbi et Orbi” message is delivered twice a year – at Christmas and at
Easter. The entire messge was delivered in Italian. Below is the full text of the
English translation of the message:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and
throughout the world! Christ is born for us! Glory to God in the highest
and peace on earth to the men and women whom he loves. May all people hear an echo
of the message of Bethlehem which the Catholic Church repeats in every continent,
beyond the confines of every nation, language and culture. The Son of the Virgin
Mary is born for everyone; he is the Saviour of all. This is how Christ
is invoked in an ancient liturgical antiphon: “O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver,
hope and salvation of the peoples: come to save us, O Lord our God”. Veni ad salvandum
nos! Come to save us! This is the cry raised by men and women in every age, who
sense that by themselves they cannot prevail over difficulties and dangers. They
need to put their hands in a greater and stronger hand, a hand which reaches out to
them from on high. Dear brothers and sisters, this hand is Jesus, born in Bethlehem
of the Virgin Mary. He is the hand that God extends to humanity, to draw us out of
the mire of sin and to set us firmly on rock, the secure rock of his Truth and his
Love (cf. Ps 40:2). This is the meaning of the Child’s name, the name which,
by God’s will, Mary and Joseph gave him: he is named Jesus, which means “Saviour”
(cf. Mt 1:21; Lk 1:31). He was sent by God the Father to save us above all from the
evil deeply rooted in man and in history: the evil of separation from God, the prideful
presumption of being self-sufficient, of trying to compete with God and to take his
place, to decide what is good and evil, to be the master of life and death (cf. Gen
3:1-7). This is the great evil, the great sin, from which we human beings cannot
save ourselves unless we rely on God’s help, unless we cry out to him: “Veni ad salvandum
nos! – Come to save us!” The very fact that we cry to heaven in this way
already sets us aright; it makes us true to ourselves: we are in fact those who cried
out to God and were saved (cf. Esth [LXX] 10:3ff.). God is the Saviour; we are those
who are in peril. He is the physician; we are the infirm. To realize this is the
first step towards salvation, towards emerging from the maze in which we have been
locked by our pride. To lift our eyes to heaven, to stretch out our hands and call
for help is our means of escape, provided that there is Someone who hears us and can
come to our assistance. Jesus Christ is the proof that God has heard our
cry. And not only this! God’s love for us is so strong that he cannot remain aloof;
he comes out of himself to enter into our midst and to share fully in our human condition
(cf. Ex 3:7-12). The answer to our cry which God gave in Jesus infinitely transcends
our expectations, achieving a solidarity which cannot be human alone, but divine.
Only the God who is love, and the love which is God, could choose to save us in this
way, which is certainly the lengthiest way, yet the way which respects the truth about
him and about us: the way of reconciliation, dialogue and cooperation. Dear
brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, on this Christmas 2011, let
us then turn to the Child of Bethlehem, to the Son of the Virgin Mary, and say: “Come
to save us!” Let us repeat these words in spiritual union with the many people who
experience particularly difficult situations; let us speak out for those who have
no voice. Together let us ask God’s help for the peoples of the Horn of
Africa, who suffer from hunger and food shortages, aggravated at times by a persistent
state of insecurity. May the international community not fail to offer assistance
to the many displaced persons coming from that region and whose dignity has been sorely
tried. May the Lord grant comfort to the peoples of South-East Asia, particularly
Thailand and the Philippines, who are still enduring grave hardships as a result of
the recent floods. May the Lord come to the aid of our world torn by so
many conflicts which even today stain the earth with blood. May the Prince of Peace
grant peace and stability to that Land where he chose to come into the world, and
encourage the resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. May he bring
an end to the violence in Syria, where so much blood has already been shed. May he
foster full reconciliation and stability in Iraq and Afghanistan. May he grant renewed
vigour to all elements of society in the countries of North Africa and the Middle
East as they strive to advance the common good. May the birth of the Saviour
support the prospects of dialogue and cooperation in Myanmar, in the pursuit of shared
solutions. May the Nativity of the Redeemer ensure political stability to the countries
of the Great Lakes Region of Africa, and assist the people of South Sudan in their
commitment to safeguarding the rights of all citizens. Dear Brothers and
Sisters, let us turn our gaze anew to the grotto of Bethlehem. The Child whom we
contemplate is our salvation! He has brought to the world a universal message of
reconciliation and peace. Let us open our hearts to him; let us receive him into
our lives. Once more let us say to him, with joy and confidence: “Veni ad salvandum
nos!”