Pope concludes 2013 urging all to go out to others in need

Pope Francis brought the curtain on the year 2013 with a traditional year-end Vespers service Tuesday evening in Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, thanking God for the year gone by and looking ahead to the dawn of 2014. The Vespers is actually the first observance of the Liturgy of the Hours for the following day’s feast; hence the Vespers of Dec. 31 commemorated the feast of the Mother of God which the Catholic Church celebrates on Jan. 1, new year’s day.
In his homily Pope Francis reflected on the end of a year and the beginning of another, in the Biblical and Christian understanding of time and history. He said that the year that ended does not lead us to a reality that ends but which is fulfilled, indicating another step towards the goal ahead – which is a place of hope and happiness, because we will meet God, the reason our hope and source of our joy. On the last day of 2013, he urged for an examination of conscience to look at our collection in our baskets to see what we have to offer to the Lord in the days, weeks and months of the year gone by. Have we used this God-given time mainly for ourselves, our interests, or have we spent it for others? And how much of our time have we dedicated to be with Him in prayers and in silence?
Being the Bishop of Rome, the Pope dedicated most of his homily to how Romans can contribute in their "small" way to make life livable, tidy and friendly in the city. He compared the face of a city to that of a mosaic, whose pieces are all those who live there. Surely the city’s authorities have greater responsibility, but, the Pope said, each one is jointly responsible, for better or for worse. The Holy Father expressed great appreciation for Rome’s unique beauty and its extraordinary spiritual and cultural heritage, but noted that many of its people were stricken with material and moral poverty - poor, miserable and suffering people, whose condition appeal to the conscience not only of public officials but also of every citizen. Perhaps this stark contrast is strongly felt in Rome, between its majestic surroundings full of artistic beauty and the social hardship of those who struggle. Rome is a city full of tourists, but also full of refugees. It is full of working people, but also of people out of work or underpaid and sometimes unworthy. Yet everyone has the right to be treated with the same attitude of acceptance and fairness, because everyone is has human dignity.
On the last day of the year 2013, the Pope urged Romans to think about how to make the New year even more beautiful by making it even more humane, warm and friendly. He said we can do it “ if all of us are careful and generous to those in need, if we work together in a constructive spirit with solidarity, for the good of all.” The Rome of the new year will be better if people don’t look at it from ‘far’, ‘from the balcony’ without getting involved in the many human problems of men and women, who are our brothers. In this perspective, the Church of Rome is committed to contribute to the life nf future of the city – to animate with the leaven of the Gospel, to be a sign and instrument of God's mercy.
In conclusion, the Pope invited all to conclude the year 2013 thanking the Lord and asking forgiveness. To thank Him for all the blessings bestowed on us, especially for his patience and loyalty over time. The Holy Father wished that that the Mother of God, in whose name they would start a new phase of the earthly pilgrimage on New Year’s day, teach all to welcome the God made ​​man, because every year, every month, every day is full of his eternal love.
The last papal service of the year celebrating the First Vespers of the Solemnity of the Mother of God, included the singing of “Te Deum”, an early Christian hymn of praise to God in thanksgiving for the year that ended. The service also included exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. After the Vespers, the Pope briefly visited the Nativity scene in the middle of St. Peter’s Square.