At 11:45am this morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience a delegation from Poland and from the Abbey of Montevergine who presented the gift of the Christmas tree and the Manger Scene that will stand in Saint Peter's Square this year.
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is a joy for me to welcome you at this time and to thank you for the gift of the Manger scene and the Christmas tree which is located in Saint Peter's Square. I warmly greet all of you, beginning with the Authorities and the representatives of various Institutions who have organized this initiative. I greet the Abbot of Montevergine, who has provided the Manger scene; the Archbishop of Warmia and the Bishop of Elk in Poland, who have sent the tree, along with the Directors of the Bialystok State Forests. I also greet the children who are being cared for in oncology departments in some Italian hospitals throughout the areas in Central Italy where earthquakes have left their marks, an effort which has been coordinated by the Contessa Lene Thun Foundation, who have furnished the decorations for the Christmas tree.
Every year, the Manger and the Christmas tree speak to us their symbolic language. They make visible that which is experienced in the birth of the Son of God. They are signs of the compassion of our heavenly Father, of his sharing in and closeness to our humanity, which he has never abandoned across the centuries of time, but which he has always visited and accompanied even in our times of trial. The tree, which reaches upward, motivates us too to reach upwards, toward the highest gifts (cf 1 Cor 12:31), to rise above the clouds that stop us from seeing and experiencing how beautiful and joyous it is to be immersed in the light of Christ. In the simplicity of the Christmas tree, we encounter and contemplate the tenderness of God, shown to us through the child Jesus.
This year, the Manger scene, which has been created in the typical fashion of Neapolitan art, is inspired by the works of mercy. The pieces remind us that the Lord has said: Do unto others what you would have them do unto you (Mt 7:12). The Manger scene is the evocative place where we contemplate Jesus who, taking upon himself the sufferings of mankind, invites us to do likewise, through the works of mercy. The tree, which this year has come from Poland, is a sign of the faith of that people who, even in this gesture, wished to demonstrate their own faithfulness to the See of Peter.
Dear children, my gratitude is also extended to you. In your work, you have transferred your dreams and your desires which will be raised to heaven and made known to Jesus, who himself became a child like you in order to tell you that he loves you. Thank you for your witness, for making these Christmas decorations even more beautiful. They will be admired by pilgrims and visitors from all corners of the world. Thank you! Thank you! Tonight, when we illuminate the lights around the Manger scene and in the Christmas tree, the hopes and dreams that you transferred by your work as you created the decorations for the tree will be lit up and seen by all people. Thank you!
May the Birth of the Lord be an occasion for all of us to be more attentive to the needs of the poor and those who, like Jesus, find no place or person to welcome them. To all of you who are here, to your loved ones and to all who you represent, I express my heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas. I assure you of my prayers that the Lord may hear your prayers and fulfill your hopes. You too, pray for me and for my service to the Church.
Now, I will give you all my blessing, but first, let us all pray to Our Lady, together:
Hail Mary ...
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
to the donors of this year's Manger Scene and Christmas Tree
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is a joy for me to welcome you at this time and to thank you for the gift of the Manger scene and the Christmas tree which is located in Saint Peter's Square. I warmly greet all of you, beginning with the Authorities and the representatives of various Institutions who have organized this initiative. I greet the Abbot of Montevergine, who has provided the Manger scene; the Archbishop of Warmia and the Bishop of Elk in Poland, who have sent the tree, along with the Directors of the Bialystok State Forests. I also greet the children who are being cared for in oncology departments in some Italian hospitals throughout the areas in Central Italy where earthquakes have left their marks, an effort which has been coordinated by the Contessa Lene Thun Foundation, who have furnished the decorations for the Christmas tree.
Every year, the Manger and the Christmas tree speak to us their symbolic language. They make visible that which is experienced in the birth of the Son of God. They are signs of the compassion of our heavenly Father, of his sharing in and closeness to our humanity, which he has never abandoned across the centuries of time, but which he has always visited and accompanied even in our times of trial. The tree, which reaches upward, motivates us too to reach upwards, toward the highest gifts (cf 1 Cor 12:31), to rise above the clouds that stop us from seeing and experiencing how beautiful and joyous it is to be immersed in the light of Christ. In the simplicity of the Christmas tree, we encounter and contemplate the tenderness of God, shown to us through the child Jesus.
This year, the Manger scene, which has been created in the typical fashion of Neapolitan art, is inspired by the works of mercy. The pieces remind us that the Lord has said: Do unto others what you would have them do unto you (Mt 7:12). The Manger scene is the evocative place where we contemplate Jesus who, taking upon himself the sufferings of mankind, invites us to do likewise, through the works of mercy. The tree, which this year has come from Poland, is a sign of the faith of that people who, even in this gesture, wished to demonstrate their own faithfulness to the See of Peter.
Dear children, my gratitude is also extended to you. In your work, you have transferred your dreams and your desires which will be raised to heaven and made known to Jesus, who himself became a child like you in order to tell you that he loves you. Thank you for your witness, for making these Christmas decorations even more beautiful. They will be admired by pilgrims and visitors from all corners of the world. Thank you! Thank you! Tonight, when we illuminate the lights around the Manger scene and in the Christmas tree, the hopes and dreams that you transferred by your work as you created the decorations for the tree will be lit up and seen by all people. Thank you!
May the Birth of the Lord be an occasion for all of us to be more attentive to the needs of the poor and those who, like Jesus, find no place or person to welcome them. To all of you who are here, to your loved ones and to all who you represent, I express my heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas. I assure you of my prayers that the Lord may hear your prayers and fulfill your hopes. You too, pray for me and for my service to the Church.
Now, I will give you all my blessing, but first, let us all pray to Our Lady, together:
Hail Mary ...
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