At the conclusion of the Mass celebrated in the Vatican Basilica for the Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God and marking the 52nd World Day of Peace, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and Happy New Year to all of you!
Today, the eighth day after Christmas, we celebrate the Holy Mother of God. Like the shepherds in Bethlehem, we have our eyes fixed upon her and upon the Child that she is holding in her arms. In this way - showing us Jesus, the Saviour of the world - she blesses us. Today Our Lady is blessing all of us, all of us. She is blessing the path that every man and woman is setting out upon at the beginning of this new year, a path that will be good to the extent that each of us has received the goodness of God that Jesus came to bring into the world.
In fact, it is God's blessing that gives substance to all the good wishes that are exchanged during these days. And today the liturgy reports the ancient blessing with which the Israelite priests blessed the people. Let us listen well; the words of the blessing say: "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and give you grace. May the Lord turn his face to you and grant you peace (Nm 6,24-26). This is the ancient blessing.
Three times the priest repeated the name of God, Lord, stretching out his hands toward the gathered people. In fact, in the Bible, the name Lord represents the very reality that is invoked, and so, placing the name of the Lord on a person, a family, a community meant offering them the beneficial strength that flows from Him.
Twice in this same formula, the name of the face is invoked: the face of the Lord. The priest prays that God let his face shine and He turned his face toward his people, and thus granted them mercy and peace.
We know that according to the Scriptures, the face of God is inaccessible to man: no one can see God and remain alive. This expresses the transcendence of God, the infinite greatness of his glory. But the glory of God is all Love, and therefore, while remaining inaccessible, like a Sun that can not be looked at, it radiates its grace on every creature and, in a special way, on men and women, in which it is most reflected.
When the fullness of time had come (Gal 4: 4), God revealed himself in the face of a man, Jesus, born of a woman. And here we return to the icon of today's feast, the point from which we started: the icon of the Holy Mother of God, who shows us the Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. He is the Blessing for every person and for the whole human family. He, Jesus, is a source of grace, mercy and peace.
This is the reason why the holy Pope Paul VI wanted the first of January to be the World Day of Peace; and today we celebrate the fifty-second World Day of Peace, which has as its theme: Good politics is at the service of peace. We do not think that politics is reserved only for rulers: we are all responsible for the life of the city, of the common good; and politics too is good to the extent that each one plays his part in the service of peace. May the Holy Mother of God help us in this daily commitment.
I would like everyone to greet her now, saying three times: Holy Mother of God. Together: Holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of God.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
On Christmas Day I addressed a message of fraternity to Rome and to the world. Today, I renew this same message as a wish for peace and prosperity. And let us pray every ay for peace.
I thank the President of the Italian Republic for the wishes he offered to me last night. May the Lord always bless his esteemed and precious service to the Italian people.
My cordial greetings are extended especially to you, dear Romans and pilgrims who are here in Saint Peter's Square today; there are so many of you here! It looks like a canonization! I greet those who are participating in the Peace in all the world demonstration, organized by the Sant'Egidio community. And here I wish to express my appreciation and my closeness to the innumerable initiatives of prayer and commitment to peace which are being carried out today in many parts of the world, organized by the ecclesial community; I particularly remember the initiative that took place yesterday in Matera.
Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, may the Lord make us artisans of peace - and this begins at home, in our families: artisans of peace - every day of this new year. And I wish you, once again, a good and holy year. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye.
(Original text in Italian)
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and Happy New Year to all of you!
Today, the eighth day after Christmas, we celebrate the Holy Mother of God. Like the shepherds in Bethlehem, we have our eyes fixed upon her and upon the Child that she is holding in her arms. In this way - showing us Jesus, the Saviour of the world - she blesses us. Today Our Lady is blessing all of us, all of us. She is blessing the path that every man and woman is setting out upon at the beginning of this new year, a path that will be good to the extent that each of us has received the goodness of God that Jesus came to bring into the world.
In fact, it is God's blessing that gives substance to all the good wishes that are exchanged during these days. And today the liturgy reports the ancient blessing with which the Israelite priests blessed the people. Let us listen well; the words of the blessing say: "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and give you grace. May the Lord turn his face to you and grant you peace (Nm 6,24-26). This is the ancient blessing.
Three times the priest repeated the name of God, Lord, stretching out his hands toward the gathered people. In fact, in the Bible, the name Lord represents the very reality that is invoked, and so, placing the name of the Lord on a person, a family, a community meant offering them the beneficial strength that flows from Him.
Twice in this same formula, the name of the face is invoked: the face of the Lord. The priest prays that God let his face shine and He turned his face toward his people, and thus granted them mercy and peace.
We know that according to the Scriptures, the face of God is inaccessible to man: no one can see God and remain alive. This expresses the transcendence of God, the infinite greatness of his glory. But the glory of God is all Love, and therefore, while remaining inaccessible, like a Sun that can not be looked at, it radiates its grace on every creature and, in a special way, on men and women, in which it is most reflected.
When the fullness of time had come (Gal 4: 4), God revealed himself in the face of a man, Jesus, born of a woman. And here we return to the icon of today's feast, the point from which we started: the icon of the Holy Mother of God, who shows us the Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. He is the Blessing for every person and for the whole human family. He, Jesus, is a source of grace, mercy and peace.
This is the reason why the holy Pope Paul VI wanted the first of January to be the World Day of Peace; and today we celebrate the fifty-second World Day of Peace, which has as its theme: Good politics is at the service of peace. We do not think that politics is reserved only for rulers: we are all responsible for the life of the city, of the common good; and politics too is good to the extent that each one plays his part in the service of peace. May the Holy Mother of God help us in this daily commitment.
I would like everyone to greet her now, saying three times: Holy Mother of God. Together: Holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of God.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
On Christmas Day I addressed a message of fraternity to Rome and to the world. Today, I renew this same message as a wish for peace and prosperity. And let us pray every ay for peace.
I thank the President of the Italian Republic for the wishes he offered to me last night. May the Lord always bless his esteemed and precious service to the Italian people.
My cordial greetings are extended especially to you, dear Romans and pilgrims who are here in Saint Peter's Square today; there are so many of you here! It looks like a canonization! I greet those who are participating in the Peace in all the world demonstration, organized by the Sant'Egidio community. And here I wish to express my appreciation and my closeness to the innumerable initiatives of prayer and commitment to peace which are being carried out today in many parts of the world, organized by the ecclesial community; I particularly remember the initiative that took place yesterday in Matera.
Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, may the Lord make us artisans of peace - and this begins at home, in our families: artisans of peace - every day of this new year. And I wish you, once again, a good and holy year. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye.
(Original text in Italian)
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