Angelus for the Holy Family

At noon today in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to lead the recitation of the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who had come to Saint Peter's Square.

Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

On this first Sunday after Christmas, the liturgy invites us to celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth.  In fact, every crèche shows Jesus together with the Madonna and with Saint Joseph in the grotto in Bethlehem.  God wanted to be born in a human family, wanted to have a mother and a father, just like we do.

And today the gospel presents the holy family on the painful road of exile, in search of refuge in Egypt.  Joseph, Mary and Jesus experience the dramatic condition of refugees, marked by fear, uncertainty and inconvenience (Mt 2:13-15, 19-23).  Unfortunately, even today, millions of families can identify with this sad reality.  Almost every day, the television and the newspapers speak of refugees fleeing hunger, war and other serious dangers in search of security and a decent life for themselves and for their families.

In distant lands, even if they manage to find work, refugees and immigrants are not always encounter true welcome, respect or appreciation for the values that they bring with them.  Instead, their legitimate expectations collide at times with complex situations and difficulties that seem insurmountable. So, when we fix our gaze upon the Holy Family of Nazareth in the moment that they become refugees, we think about the drama of those exiles and refugees who are victims of rejection and exploitation, who are victims of human trafficking and slave labor. But let us also think about the other exiles: I would call them hidden exiles, those exiles that can be within our own family: the elderly, for example, who are sometimes treated as an inconvenience. I often think that an indicator of how a family is doing is how the children and old people in the family are treated.

Jesus wanted to belong to a family that experienced these hardships, so that no one would feel excluded from the loving presence of God. The flight into Egypt caused by Herod’s threats shows us that God is present where man is in danger, where man suffers, where he flees, where he experiences rejection and abandonment; but God is also present where man dreams, where he hopes to return to freedom in his homeland, when he plans and decides about his life and dignity and that of his family.

Today our contemplation of the Holy Family is drawn also by the simplicity of the life they lead at Nazareth. It is an example that is very good for our families, it helps them to become communities of love and reconciliation in which tenderness, mutual help and reciprocal forgiveness are experienced. Let us remember the three key phrases for a life of peace and joy in the family: excuse me, thank you, I’m sorry. In a family when you are not intrusive but say excuse me, when you are not self-centered but say thank you, and when you realize that you have done something wrong and you say I’m sorry, in that family there is peace and joy. Let us remember these three phrases. But we can say them all together: excuse me, thank you, I’m sorry. (The people gathered in St. Peter’s Square then repeated the words after the Holy Father.) I would also like families to be aware of their importance in the Church and in society. The proclamation of the Gospel, in fact, passes first of all through families before reaching the different spheres of daily life.

Let us fervently invoke Mary Most Holy, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, and St. Joseph her husband. Let us ask them to enlighten, to comfort, to guide every family in the world so that they may carry out the mission that God has entrusted to them with dignity and serenity.

Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father said a prayer to the Holy Family and then greeted the people gathered in St. Peter’s Square:

Dear brothers and sisters,

The upcoming consistory and Synod of Bishops will deal with the topic of the family, and the preparatory phase started some time ago. Because of this, today, the feast of the Holy Family, I would like to entrust the synodal work to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, praying for the families of the whole word. I invite you to join spiritually with me in the prayer that I now recite:

Prayer to the Holy Family

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

in you we contemplate

the splendor of true love,

we turn to you in trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

make our families too

places of communion and cenacles of prayer,

authentic schools of the Gospel

and little domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may violence, closure and division

never again be experienced in families;

may whoever has been wounded or scandalized

soon be consoled and healed.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may the coming Synod of Bishops

reawaken in everyone the consciousness

of the sacred and inviolable character of the family,

its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

hear and grant our supplication. Amen.

I offer a special greeting to the faithful with whom we are connected by video: in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops is present; in the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, where the President of the Pontifical Council for the Family is present; in the Basilica Shrine of the Holy House in Loreto. And I extend this greeting to those gathered in various parts of the world for other celebrations of the family, such as the one in Madrid.

Finally, I greet with affection all of the pilgrims present here, especially the families! I know that there are members of the Romanian community of Rome present. I greet the young people of the Focolare movement who have come from various countries, among whom are the groups from the Dioceses of Milan, Como, Lodi, Padua, Vicenza and Concordia-Pordenone. I greet the young people from Curno and Calcinate with their catechists; the faithful from Salcedo, Carzago Riviera, San Giovanni in Persiceto and Modica

I wish you all a beautiful feast of the Holy Family, a beautiful and good Sunday and a good lunch. Good bye!

Migrants send a letter to the Pope

In the first Christmas Message of his Pontificate, Pope Francis asked that migrants in search of a dignified life might find acceptance and assistance.  In response, several immigrants in Rome who have recently been on a hunger strike have ended their protest, deciding instead to send a letter to the Holy Father in order to inform him about their situation.  The letter was presented to Emanuele Gianonne, Director of Caritas Rome on Thursday of this week.

The migrants in question had sewn their mouths shut with needles and thread in order to denounce the conditions in which they had been living for the past number of months.  Some of these have been detained while they await documents granting asylum; others await deportation.

Over the past week, about twenty migrants detained in various places throughout Rome have participated in the hunger strike.  Mister Ignazio Marino, the Mayor of Rome has agreed that the moment has come to reopen the debate on the inhuman treatment of migrants in these centres and has called for legislation protecting migrants who are escaping war, violence and poverty.

According to the current immigration laws in force in Italy, migrants can be detained in these centres for up to eighteen months while their situations are resolved or until the proper documentation from their countries of origin should arrive.

Roman parishioners will celebrate Mass with the Pope

On Friday morning, the Director of the Vatican Press Office announced that the Holy Father's daily Mass, a tradition which he began after his election to the papacy, will now be open to parishioners from the various parishes in Rome.

Beginning in January 2014, Cardinal Agostino Valini, the Vicar of His Holiness for Rome will inform pastors in that diocese about the procedure they should follow in order to express their desire to attend the Mass along with a group of about twenty-five of their parishioners.   For the past months, the papal Mass has been attended by Vatican employees.

This initiative will allow the people of Rome to interact with their Bishop.  Given his other responsibilities, it is not possible for the Holy Father to visit all the parishes in the diocese of Rome.

Greetings to the youth of Europe

The 36th Meeting of European Youth promoted by the Taize Community begins today in Strasbourg, France, and will continue until Wednesday, January 1.  To mark this occasion, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent a message via his Secretary of State to all those participating in this ecumenical gathering.

Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to young people participating in the

ecumenical gathering at Strasbourg

Rome joyfully remembers your European gathering which took place last year, and the very beautiful prayer which was an opportunity for thousands of young people to gather with Pope Benedict XVI in Saint Peter's Square.  Pope Francis is close to you who are now gathered in Strasbourg as well as in the towns and villages of Alsace and Orteneau: a land which has been lacerated by wars which left innumerable victims, but a land which also holds great promise for the building up of and strengthening of the European family.  Taking place simultaneously in two countries, your gathering is significant.  Europe, which has experienced and still is experiencing difficult moments, needs your commitment, your faith and your courage.

You are gathered together to seek out the visible communion of all those who love Christ.  This is the task that you have given yourselves for the gatherings that will take place at Taize during the coming year.  You know that division between Christians constitutes a considerable obstacle to the accomplishment of the mission which has been entrusted to the Church and that the credibility of the Christian message would be much greater if Christians could overcome their divisions (Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, 244).  The Pope shares your conviction that we can learn many things from one another, since there are many realities that unite us.

The Pope is counting on you, that through your faith and the witness you bear, the spirit of gospel peace and reconciliation may shine brilliantly among your peers.  With all his heart, he gives you his blessing to all the young people participating in this year's gathering, to the brothers of Taize, as well as to all the pastors and those who welcome you to Alsace and Orteneau.

Archbishop Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State of His Holiness

A visit from Syria

This morning, the Holy See's Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin and the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti received a visit from a delegation from the Syrian government, composed of Mister Joseph Sweid, Minister of State who was accompanied by Mister Hussam Eddin Aala, Assistant Minister and Director for Europe, from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Mister Aala once served also as Syrian Ambassador to the Holy See.

This delegation brought with it a message from President Assad for the Holy Father and outlined the position of the Syrian government.

Angelus for Saint Stephen's Day

At noon on Thursday in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square.

Address of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.

You are not afraid of the rain; you are very brave!

The liturgy prolongs the Solemnity of the Nativity for eight days: a time of joy for all God's people! On this second day of the Octave, we observe the feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the Church. The book of the Acts of the Apostles, which speaks of him as a man of faith, filled with the Holy Spirit (6:5), chosen along with six others to serve widows and the poor in the first community in Jerusalem.  It also recounts the details of his martyrdom: when, following a passionate speech which aroused the anger of the members of the Sanhedrin, he was dragged outside the city walls and stoned.  Stephen died like Jesus did: asking for forgiveness for his executioners (7:55-60).

In the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, this commemoration might seem out of place.  In fact, Christmas is the festival of life, based on sentiments of serenity and peace;  why should we disturb the charm by recalling such terrible violence?  The truth is that from the perspective of faith, the Feast of Saint Stephen is in full harmony with the deeper meaning of Christmas.  Through martyrdom, violence is overcome by love and death by life.  The Church sees in the sacrifice of the martyrs, their heavenly birth.  So, today we celebrate Stephen's birth which in truth begins with the birth of Christ.  Jesus transforms the deaths of those who love him into the dawn of new life!

In the martyrdom of Stephen, the comparisons between good and evil, between hatred and forgiveness, between gentleness and violence ... which culminated in the cross of Christ, are also played out.  The memorial of the first martyr thus instantly dissolves any false conception of Christmas as a fabled or sentimental image which does not exist in the gospel!  The liturgy brings us back to the true meaning of the incarnation, connecting Bethlehem to Calvary and reminding us that divine salvation involves a fight against sin which passes through the narrow gate of the cross.  This is the path that Jesus has clearly pointed out to his disciples, as we see in today's gospel: You will be despised by all for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved (Mt 10:22).

Today, we should pray especially for Christians who are discriminated against because of the witness they bear to Christ and to the gospel.  We are close to those brothers and sisters who, like Saint Stephen, are unjustly accused and subjected to violence of various kinds.  I am sure that, unfortunately, such persecutions are more numerous today than they were in the early days of the Church.  There are so many of them!  It happens especially in cases where religious freedom is still not guaranteed or not yet assured.  It also occurs in countries where, at least on paper, such liberties and human rights are assured, but where in fact, believers and especially Christians encounter limitations and discrimination.  I would like to ask you all to pray for a few moments in silence for these brothers and sisters of ours ... and we entrust them to the protection of Mary (Hail Mary ...)  For Christians, this persecution should not be surprising because Jesus predicted it as an opportunity for us to testify.  However, in the civil order, such injustice must be denounced and eliminated.

May Mary, the Queen of Martyrs, help us to live this time of Christmas with the conviction of faith and love that shines in the lives of Saint Stephen and all the martyrs of the Church.

Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:

I greet the families, the parish groups, the associations and all the faithful who have come from Rome, from Italy and from all other parts of the world.  May our visits the crib during these days to admire Mary and Joseph along with the Child awaken in all of us a generous commitment to loving one another so that within our families and among our various communities, we may experience a climate of fraternity that is so beneficial for the common good.

Happy Christmas, and enjoy your lunch!

Christmas greetings

Following the Urbi et orbi message pronounced at the Loggia of the Vatican Basilica, His Holiness, Pope Francis spoke brief words of greeting to those who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square.

Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis

to pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square

To you, dear brothers and sisters, gathered from throughout the world in this Square, and to all those from different countries who join us through the communications media, I offer my cordial best wishes for a merry Christmas!

On this day illumined by the Gospel hope which springs from the humble stable of Bethlehem, I invoke the Christmas gift of joy and peace upon all: upon children and the elderly, upon young people and families, the poor and the marginalized. May Jesus, who was born for us, console all those afflicted by illness and suffering; may he sustain those who devote themselves to serving our brothers and sisters who are most in need. Happy Christmas to all!

For the city and for the world

At noon yesterday in Rome, His Holiness, Pope Francis appeared on the Loggia of Blessing, above the main doors of Saint Peter's Basilica to deliver the traditional Christmas message to the faithful who were in Saint Peter's Square and to all those in other parts of the world who were listening on radios or watching on television.

Christmas Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to the city and to the world

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours (Lk 2:14)

Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the whole world, Greetings and Happy Christmas!

I take up the song of the angels who appeared to the shepherds in Bethlehem on the night when Jesus was born. It is a song which unites heaven and earth, giving praise and glory to heaven, and the promise of peace to earth and all its people.

I ask everyone to share in this song: it is a song for every man or woman who keeps watch through the night, who hopes for a better world, who cares for others while humbly seeking to do his or her duty.

Glory to God!

Above all else, this is what Christmas bids us to do: give glory to God, for he is good, he is faithful, he is merciful. Today I voice my hope that everyone will come to know the true face of God, the Father who has given us Jesus. My hope is that everyone will feel God’s closeness, live in his presence, love him and adore him.

May each of us give glory to God above all by our lives, by lives spent for love of him and of all our brothers and sisters.

Peace to mankind

True peace - we know this well - is not a balance of opposing forces. It is not a lovely façade which conceals conflicts and divisions. Peace calls for daily commitment, but making peace is an art, starting from God’s gift, from the grace which he has given us in Jesus Christ.

Looking at the Child in the manger, Child of peace, our thoughts turn to those children who are the most vulnerable victims of wars, but we think too of the elderly, of battered women, of the sick… Wars shatter and hurt so many lives!

Too many lives have been shattered in recent times by the conflict in Syria, fueling hatred and vengeance. Let us continue to ask the Lord to spare the beloved Syrian people further suffering, and to enable the parties in conflict to put an end to all violence and guarantee access to humanitarian aid. We have seen how powerful prayer is! And I am happy today too, that the followers of different religious confessions are joining us in our prayer for peace in Syria. Let us never lose the courage of prayer! The courage to say: Lord, grant your peace to Syria and to the whole world. And I also invite non-believers to desire peace with that yearning that makes the heart grow: all united, either by prayer or by desire. But all of us, for peace.

Grant peace, dear Child, to the Central African Republic, often forgotten and overlooked. Yet you, Lord, forget no one! And you also want to bring peace to that land, torn apart by a spiral of violence and poverty, where so many people are homeless, lacking water, food and the bare necessities of life. Foster social harmony in South Sudan, where current tensions have already caused too many victims and are threatening peaceful coexistence in that young state.

Prince of Peace, in every place turn hearts aside from violence and inspire them to lay down arms and undertake the path of dialogue. Look upon Nigeria, rent by constant attacks which do not spare the innocent and defenseless. Bless the land where you chose to come into the world, and grant a favourable outcome to the peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. Heal the wounds of the beloved country of Iraq, once more struck by frequent acts of violence.

Lord of life, protect all who are persecuted for your name. Grant hope and consolation to the displaced and refugees, especially in the Horn of Africa and in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Grant that migrants in search of a dignified life may find acceptance and assistance. May tragedies like those we have witnessed this year, with so many deaths at Lampedusa, never occur again!

Child of Bethlehem, touch the hearts of all those engaged in human trafficking, that they may realize the gravity of this crime against humanity. Look upon the many children who are kidnapped, wounded and killed in armed conflicts, and all those who are robbed of their childhood and forced to become soldiers.

Lord of heaven and earth, look upon our planet, frequently exploited by human greed. Help and protect all the victims of natural disasters, especially the beloved people of the Philippines, gravely affected by the recent typhoon.

Dear brothers and sisters, today, in this world, in this humanity, is born the Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Let us pause before the Child of Bethlehem. Let us allow our hearts to be touched, let us not fear this. Let us not fear that our hearts be moved. We need this! Let us allow ourselves to be warmed by the tenderness of God; we need his caress. God’s caresses do not harm us. They give us peace and strength. We need his caresses. God is full of love: to him be praise and glory forever! God is peace: let us ask him to help us to be peacemakers each day, in our life, in our families, in our cities and nations, in the whole world. Let us allow ourselves to be moved by God’s goodness.

First Papal homily for Christmas

At 9:30pm on Christmas Eve night in the Vatican Basilica, His Holiness, Pope Francis presided at the celebration of the Mass for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.  During the celebration, following the proclamation of the Gospel, the Holy Father spoke the following homily.

Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the Christmas Eve Mass

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Is 9:1).

This prophecy of Isaiah never ceases to touch us, especially when we hear it proclaimed in the liturgy of Christmas Night. This is not simply an emotional or sentimental matter. It moves us because it states the deep reality of what we are: a people who walk, and all around us – and within us as well – there is darkness and light. In this night, as the spirit of darkness enfolds the world, there takes place anew the event which always amazes and surprises us: the people who walk see a great light. A light which makes us reflect on this mystery: the mystery of walking and seeing.

Walking. This verb makes us reflect on the course of history, that long journey which is the history of salvation, starting with Abraham, our father in faith, whom the Lord called one day to set out, to go forth from his country towards the land which he would show him. From that time on, our identity as believers has been that of a people making its pilgrim way towards the promised land. This history has always been accompanied by the Lord! He is ever faithful to his covenant and to his promises. Because he is faithful, God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all (1 Jn 1:5). Yet on the part of the people there are times of both light and darkness, fidelity and infidelity, obedience, and rebellion; times of being a pilgrim people and times of being a people adrift.

In our personal history too, there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows. If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us. Whoever hates his brother – writes the Apostle John – is in the darkness; he walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has blinded his eyes (1 Jn 2:11). A people who walk, but as a pilgrim people who do not want to go astray.

On this night, like a burst of brilliant light, there rings out the proclamation of the Apostle: God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race (Tit 2:11).

The grace which was revealed in our world is Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, true man and true God. He has entered our history; he has shared our journey. He came to free us from darkness and to grant us light. In him was revealed the grace, the mercy, and the tender love of the Father: Jesus is Love incarnate. He is not simply a teacher of wisdom, he is not an ideal for which we strive while knowing that we are hopelessly distant from it. He is the meaning of life and history, who has pitched his tent in our midst.

The shepherds were the first to see this tent, to receive the news of Jesus’ birth. They were the first because they were among the last, the outcast. And they were the first because they were awake, keeping watch in the night, guarding their flocks. The pilgrim is bound by duty to keep watch and the shepherds did just that. Together with them, let us pause before the Child, let us pause in silence. Together with them, let us thank the Lord for having given Jesus to us, and with them let us raise from the depths of our hearts the praises of his fidelity: We bless you, Lord God most high, who lowered yourself for our sake. You are immense, and you made yourself small; you are rich and you made yourself poor; you are all-powerful and you made yourself vulnerable.

On this night let us share the joy of the Gospel: God loves us, he so loves us that he gave us his Son to be our brother, to be light in our darkness. To us the Lord repeats: Do not be afraid! (Lk 2:10). As the angels said to the shepherds: Do not be afraid!. And I also repeat to all of you: Do not be afraid! Our Father is patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness. He is mercy: our Father always forgives us. He is our peace. Amen.

Falling in love in order to learn how to love

Here is the text of the reflection I shared with the community that gathered to celebrate the greatest of Christmas gifts.

Looking backward … looking forward

Tonight (today) we celebrate the birthday of Jesus.  When children celebrate birthdays, there should always be a party.  There should always be friends around, and some food, and perhaps some games – in general, an opportunity to spend some time together having fun.  When adults celebrate birthdays, there should also be time for all of this but adults sometimes get serious much too quickly and forget that there should always be great joy in celebrating a birthday.  The more introspective adult will take time to consider the year that has passed, complete with its joys and struggles, its blessings and its challenges, and then perhaps ponder a few hopes and dreams for the year that lies ahead.  As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s take a moment, just a moment to consider what’s gone on in the history of God’s people, and perhaps venture a few musings about what might lie ahead.

For many centuries, the prophets had foretold the coming of the Messiah, the Savior, but when we think of the savior, the images we conjure are nothing like what actually took place.  Normally, at least in those days, people didn’t travel very far; in fact, it would have been considered quite normal for a young couple to give birth to their newborn child right in their own home, but Joseph and Mary were not at home when Jesus was born.  They were traveling because the Roman governor had called for a census, and commanded that every Jew should go to the place where his ancestors had been born in order to be registered.  Since Joseph was from the House of David, he and his intended wife had to travel to Bethlehem, the homeland of David.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  She gave birth … wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger.  Joseph and Mary were not rich folk.  Joseph was a carpenter, who earned a modest living.  Traveling would have taken up much of his financial resources, and even if there was room for them in one of the Inns, I’m not sure he would have been able to afford it.  Mary made the child as comfortable as possible, wrapping it in bands of cloth in order to protect it from the chill of the night air, and since they could not find a room anywhere, the next best thing was the warmth of a stable.  At least they could count on the animals to provide some warmth, but a manger is not the most dignified bed in which to lay the head of the Lord of all creation, is it?

When Prince George, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was born a few months ago, the first to be informed about his birth were his parents and the rest of the British Royal family; then elaborate measures were undertaken to communicate the news to all the world.  When Jesus was born, the first to hear about it, other than his parents, were shepherds, among the lowest on the totem pole from a cultural standpoint.  The news of prince George's birth was undertaken by various means of modern technology; the news of Jesus’ birth was communicated through angel song.  When prince Goerge was born, dignitaries sent congratulatory notes from all the corners of the world; when Jesus was born, the shepherds came in person to find Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

The birthday we celebrate tonight (today) had very humble beginnings, but the one who we celebrate is more worthy of praise than any other mortal.  The one who is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace came into the world as a helpless, vulnerable child and this is why we must stop tonight (today) to allow our hearts to be drawn to the crèche.  There is nothing like a newborn child to melt the defenses of even the most hardened exterior, to disarm even the most skeptical bystander, to attract attention.  God made himself vulnerable so that we too might learn how to kneel in the presence of such an innocent child, to make ourselves vulnerable, to dare to fall in love again.

Out of love for us, Christ gave himself for us in order that we might be a people of his own who are eager to do good deeds.  So you see, God is smarter than all of us.  If he chose to appear among us as an adult, we may not have paid any attention to him, so instead he appeared in the form of a newborn child.  This child has captured our hearts, continues to teach us how to love, and shares with us the gift of being eager to do good for others out of love for them.

Merry Christmas!
Joyeux Noel!
Buon Natale!