To conclude the year

At 5:00pm today, in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of the First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God, which was followed by a period of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the singing of the traditional hymn Te Deum in thanksgiving for the year that has now been concluded and the imparting of the Eucharistic Blessing.

Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the celebration of Vespers

on the eve of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Word of God introduces us today, in a special way, in the meaning of time, in understanding that time is not a foreign reality to God, simply because He willed to reveal Himself and to save us in history. The meaning of time, temporality, is the atmosphere of God’s epiphany, that is, of the manifestation of God and of His concrete love. In fact, time is God’s messenger, as Saint Peter Favre said.

Today’s liturgy recalls for us the phrase of the Apostle John: Children, it is the last hour (1 John 2:18), and that of Saint Paul who speaks of the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4). Therefore, today manifests to us how time was – so to speak –touched by Christ, the Son of God and of Mary, and received from Him new and surprising meanings: it became the salvific time, namely, the definitive time of salvation and grace.

And all this induces us to think of the end of the journey of life, the end of our journey. There was a beginning and there will be an end, a time to be born and a time to die (Quoheleth 3:2). With this truth, so simple and fundamental and so neglected and forgotten, Holy Mother Church teaches us to end the year and also our days with an examination of conscience, through which we review what has happened: we thank the Lord for every good we have received and have been able to do and, at the same time, we think again of our failings and our sins -- to be grateful and to ask for forgiveness.

It is what we also do today at the end of the year. We praise the Lord with the Te Deum hymn and at the same time we ask Him for forgiveness. The attitude of thanksgiving disposes us to humility, the ability to recognize and receive the Lord’s gifts.

In the Reading for these First Vespers, the Apostle Paul recapitulates the fundamental motive for our rendering thanks to God: He has made us His children, He has adopted us as His children. This unmerited gift fills us with gratitude full of astonishment! Someone might say: But are we not already his children, by the very fact of being men and women? We certainly are, because God is the Father of every person who comes into the world. But without forgetting that we were estranged from Him because of original sin, which separated us from our Father: our filial relationship was profoundly wounded. Therefore, God sent his Son to rescue us at the price of His own blood. And if there is a rescue, it is because there is a slavery. We were children, but we became slaves, following the voice of the Evil One. No one else rescues us from that essential slavery except Jesus, who assumed our flesh through the cooperation of the Virgin Mary and died on the cross to free us from the slavery of sin and to restore us to our lost filial condition.

Today’s liturgy also reminds us that in the beginning (before time) was the Word … and the Word was made man and because of this, Saint Irenaeus affirms: “This is the reason the Word was made man, and Son of God, Son of man: so that man, entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine filiation, could become the son of God: (Adversus Haereses, 3, 19, 1” PG 7, 939; cf Catechism of the Catholic Church, 460).

Contemporaneously, the gift itself for which we give thanks is also a reason for the examination of conscience, the revision of our personal and communal life, by asking ourselves: how do we live? Do we live as children or as slaves? Do we live as baptized persons in Christ, anointed by the Spirit, rescued and free? Or do we live according to the corrupt, worldly logic, doing what the devil makes us believe is in our interest? In our existential journey there is always a tendency to resist liberation; we are afraid of liberty and, paradoxically, we unwittingly prefer slavery. Liberty scares us because it puts us before time and in the face of our responsibility to live it well. Slavery reduces time to a moment and thus we feel more secure, that is, it makes us live moments disconnected from their past and from our future. In other words, slavery impedes us from living the present fully and really, because it empties it of the past and closes it to the future, to eternity. Slavery makes us believe that we cannot dream, fly, hope.

A great Italian artist said a few days ago that it was easier for the Lord to take the Israelites out of Egypt than Egypt from the heart of the Israelites. Yes, they were liberated materially from slavery, but during the march in the desert with the various difficulties and hunger they began to feel nostalgia for Egypt where they ate … onions and garlic (cf Numbers 11:5); they forgot, however, that they ate them at the table of slavery. The nostalgia of slavery nests in our heart, because it is seemingly more reassuring than liberty, which is far more risky. How happy we are to be enthralled by many fireworks, apparently beautiful but which in reality last only a few moments! This is the reign of the moment!

From this examination of conscience depends, also for us Christians, the quality of our acting, of our living, of our presence in the city, of our service to the common good, of our participation in public and ecclesial institutions.

For this reason, and being also Bishop of Rome, I would like to reflect on our living in Rome, which is a great gift, because it means dwelling in the Eternal City; for a Christian, especially, it means to be part of the Church founded on the testimony and the martyrdom of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Therefore, we also thank the Lord for this. However, at the same time it is a great responsibility. And Jesus said: Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required (Luke 12:48). Therefore, we must ask ourselves: in this city, in this ecclesial community, are we free or are we slaves, are we salt and light? Are we leaven? Or are we spent, insipid, hostile, discouraged, insignificant, tired?

Undoubtedly the grave events of corruption, which emerged recently, require a serious and conscious conversion of hearts for a spiritual and moral rebirth, as well as for a renewed commitment to build a more just and solitary city, where the poor, the weak and the marginalized are at the centre of our concerns and daily actions. A great and daily attitude of Christian freedom is necessary to have the courage to proclaim, in our city, that the poor must be defended, and not to defend ourselves from the poor, that we must serve the weak and not make use of them!

The teaching of a simple Roman deacon can help us. When Saint Lawrence was asked to bring and show the treasures of the Church, he simply brought some of the poor. When the poor and the weak are looked after, aided and helped in a city to promote themselves in a society, they reveal themselves  to be the treasure of the Church and a treasure in society. Instead, when a society ignores the poor, persecutes them, criminalizes them, and constrains them (to join the Mafia), that society is impoverished to the point of misery, it loses its freedom and prefers the garlic and the onions of slavery, of the slavery of its egoism, of the slavery of its cowardice; that society ceases to be Christian.

Dear brothers and sisters, to conclude the year is to reaffirm that a last hour exists and that the fullness of time exists. In concluding this year, in giving thanks and in asking for forgiveness, it will do us good to ask for the grace to be able to walk in freedom in order to repair the many damages and to defend ourselves from the nostalgia of slavery, not to be nostalgic about slavery.

May the Holy Virgin, who was in fact at the heart of the temple of God, when the Word – who was in the beginning – made Himself one with us in time; may she who gave the Saviour to the world, help us to receive Him with an open heart, and to truly be and live freely as children of God.

Words for those who are sick

Today, the Vatican Press Centre published the text of the Holy Father's message for the XXIII World Day of the Sick which will be observed on February 11, 2015.

Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the XXIII World Day of the Sick

(February 11, 2015)

Sapientia Cordis

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame

(Job 29:15)

Dear brothers and sisters,

On this, the twenty-third World Day of the Sick, begun by Saint John Paul II, I turn to all of you who are burdened by illness and are united in various ways to the flesh of the suffering Christ, as well as to you, professionals and volunteers in the field of health care.

This year’s theme invites us to reflect on a phrase from the Book of Job: I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame (Job 29:15). I would like to consider this phrase from the perspective of sapientia cordis – the wisdom of the heart.

1. This wisdom is no theoretical, abstract knowledge, the product of reasoning. Rather, it is, as Saint James describes it in his Letter, pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity (3:17). It is a way of seeing things infused by the Holy Spirit in the minds and the hearts of those who are sensitive to the sufferings of their brothers and sisters and who can see in them the image of God. So let us take up the prayer of the Psalmist: Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Ps 90:12). This sapientia cordis, which is a gift of God, is a compendium of the fruits of the World Day of the Sick.

2. Wisdom of the heart means serving our brothers and sisters. Job’s words: I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, point to the service which this just man, who enjoyed a certain authority and a position of importance amongst the elders of his city, offered to those in need. His moral grandeur found expression in the help he gave to the poor who sought his help and in his care for orphans and widows (Job 29:12-13).

Today too, how many Christians show, not by their words but by lives rooted in a genuine faith, that they are eyes to the blind and feet to the lame! They are close to the sick in need of constant care and help in washing, dressing and eating. This service, especially when it is protracted, can become tiring and burdensome. It is relatively easy to help someone for a few days but it is difficult to look after a person for months or even years, in some cases when he or she is no longer capable of expressing gratitude. And yet, what a great path of sanctification this is! In those difficult moments we can rely in a special way on the closeness of the Lord, and we become a special means of support for the Church’s mission.

3. Wisdom of the heart means being with our brothers and sisters. Time spent with the sick is holy time. It is a way of praising God who conforms us to the image of his Son, who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mt 20:28). Jesus himself said: I am among you as one who serves (Lk 22:27).

With lively faith let us ask the Holy Spirit to grant us the grace to appreciate the value of our often unspoken willingness to spend time with these sisters and brothers who, thanks to our closeness and affection, feel more loved and comforted. How great a lie, on the other hand, lurks behind certain phrases which so insist on the importance of quality of life that they make people think that lives affected by grave illness are not worth living!

4. Wisdom of the heart means going forth from ourselves towards our brothers and sisters. Occasionally our world forgets the special value of time spent at the bedside of the sick, since we are in such a rush; caught up as we are in a frenzy of doing, of producing, we forget about giving ourselves freely, taking care of others, being responsible for others. Behind this attitude there is often a lukewarm faith which has forgotten the Lord’s words: You did it unto me (Mt 25:40).

For this reason, I would like once again to stress the absolute priority of ‘going forth from ourselves toward our brothers and sisters’ as one of the two great commandments which ground every moral norm and as the clearest sign for discerning spiritual growth in response to God’s completely free gift (Evangelii Gaudium, 179). The missionary nature of the Church is the wellspring of an effective charity and a compassion which understands, assists and promotes (Ibid).

5. Wisdom of the heart means showing solidarity with our brothers and sisters while not judging them. Charity takes time. Time to care for the sick and time to visit them. Time to be at their side like Job’s friends: And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great (Job 2:13). Yet Job’s friends harboured a judgement against him: they thought that Job’s misfortune was a punishment from God for his sins. True charity is a sharing which does not judge, which does not demand the conversion of others; it is free of that false humility which, deep down, seeks praise and is self-satisfied about whatever good it does.

Job’s experience of suffering finds its genuine response only in the cross of Jesus, the supreme act of God’s solidarity with us, completely free and abounding in mercy. This response of love to the drama of human pain, especially innocent suffering, remains for ever impressed on the body of the risen Christ; his glorious wounds are a scandal for faith but also the proof of faith (cf Homily for the Canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II, 27 April 2014).

Even when illness, loneliness and inability make it hard for us to reach out to others, the experience of suffering can become a privileged means of transmitting grace and a source for gaining and growing in sapientia cordis. We come to understand how Job, at the end of his experience, could say to God: I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you (Job 42:5). People immersed in the mystery of suffering and pain, when they accept these in faith, can themselves become living witnesses of a faith capable of embracing suffering, even without being able to understand its full meaning.

6. I entrust this World Day of the Sick to the maternal protection of Mary, who conceived and gave birth to Wisdom incarnate: Jesus Christ, our Lord.

O Mary, Seat of Wisdom, intercede as our Mother for all the sick and for those who care for them! Grant that, through our service to our suffering neighbours, and through the experience of suffering itself, we may receive and cultivate true wisdom of heart!

With this prayer for all of you, I impart my Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican, 3 December 2014
Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier
Francis

A gift to be shared

Here is the text of the reflection I prepared for the celebration of the Mass of Resurrection for this wonderful lady who lived her faith joyfully and shared it willingly with all those who came in contact with her.

Funeral homily for Rose Ann Heffernan

Each of the significant moments in our lives makes an impression on us.  We may not immediately notice the words that will stay with us, the gestures that we will remember or even the people who surround us at such moments, but at some point in the future, when our minds catch up with our hearts, we may very well catch ourselves repeating words or phrases that we have often heard others speak, or reacting to certain situations in a manner reminiscent of someone else who has left a mark on our soul.

Today, this community of faith has gathered in this place to pray our sister Rose into her eternal home.  We have come here because in some small or significant way, her life has had an influence on ours (cf Rom 14:7).  Her words, her actions and the conviction of her faith were constant reminders to those who she encountered that this was indeed a woman of deep faith, a woman who trusted implicitly that our God loves each and every one of us even more than we could ever ask or imagine.  

As we entrust her soul into the loving embrace of our God, we hear once again the words that Jesus himself spoke to his disciples in order to prepare them for the moment when he would no longer be with them: 

Do not let your hearts be troubled; trust in God and trust in me (Jn 14:1).  

Rose had heard these words read aloud on many occasions, and she herself would repeat them many times throughout her life: trust in God and trust in me.  Together with her beloved Bert, she taught her children Catherine and Matt the value of such trust.  She taught not only through her words but most importantly through her example.  In time, you and your children have been the benefactors of the combined faith experience of this wonderful woman and her siblings and their extended families as well.  Throughout their lives, filled with moments of joy and celebration as well as trials and questions, each of them has been a model of the trust of which Jesus speaks.

You know the way to the place where I am going (Jn 14:4).  

Only a faithful disciple of Jesus could understand that these words of his referred to his return to the Father’s house, to a place where there would be room enough for all his disciples to one day live in harmony and peace with him, to a place where we will all one day know the fullness of life when we see him face to face.

The faithful disciples of Jesus understand that we already know the way to the place where he leads us, for Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (cf Jn 14:6) which is promised to all of us.  We believe that Jesus came from the Father.  This is the reason why we gather around the crib to remember and to celebrate the infinitely tender love of our God who confided his son into the loving arms of a young virgin from Nazareth, and into the capable arms of an honest carpenter who wanted nothing more than to care for his family. The tender love of our God was a constant companion, accompanying Jesus at every step of his earthly journey, and it is the same for us who share in this tender love throughout our own journey through life, until the day when we will all see him face to face.

It is the tender love of our God that gathers us here today.  It is the tender love of our God that now welcomes Rose home to the place where she will know the fullness of joy in his presence.  It is the tender love of our God that assures us that we can all hope in him for salvation … even as we exult and rejoice that he has saved us (Is 25:9).

Greetings to the Taizé community

Today, the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin sent a message on behalf of the Holy Father, Pope Francis to the Taizé community on the occasion of their 27th European meeting which is taking place in Prague (Czech Republic).

Greetings on behalf of His Holiness, Pope Francis

to the Taizé community

Do not let yourselves be overwhelmed by your limitations and your poverty. 

Through his Spirit, present in you, Christ makes you the salt of the earth.

Dear Young People,

Coming from the whole of Europe and also from other continents, you are gathered at Prague for the 37th European meeting organized by the Taizé community. At Prague, and during the year 2015 at Taizé, you are going to seek ways, through prayer and dialogue with one another, to be the salt of the earth. Pope Francis encourages you greatly in this search. There you will discover the surprising trust Christ places in you. Do not let yourselves be overwhelmed by your limitations and your poverty. Through his Spirit, present in you, Christ makes you the salt of the earth. Look to him to receive what He asks of you. He comes to give the world its true flavor by enabling it to discover the beauty of communion with God and between brothers and sisters.

While the Czech Republic celebrates the 25 years since its return to democracy, do not forget in your prayers the Martyrs and Confessors of the faith; men and women of good will who made  it possible, by the selfless gift of themselves, and sometimes at the price of great sufferings, for their country’s rediscovery of the path to freedom. You are also invited to open paths to freedom, by giving yourselves with the willingness that Mary had at Nazareth, when she received in herself the life of the Son of God. It is this life that is called to be spread also in you.

The Pope has confidence in your imagination and creativity so that the joy of the Gospel is proclaimed and heard today in your different countries. It is lovely that young people are ‘pilgrims of the faith,’ happy to bring Jesus to every street, every place, every corner of the earth! (Evangelii Gaudium, 106).

As the Holy Father said during his trip to Turkey, when making reference to you Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant young people, who come together in the international meetings organized by the Community of Taizé: they are the ones who today ask us to take steps forward toward full communion (Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, November 30, 2014).

From the bottom of his heart, the Holy Father blesses you, the young participants in the meeting, the Brothers of Taizé, as well as the pastors and all the persons who welcome you at Prague and in the surrounding villages.

His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin
Secretary of State

On the Holy Family

Here is the text of the meditation I shared with the gathered community for the Feast of the Holy Family.

Faith that is tested

On the Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s Day, the liturgy focuses on the gift of families and on the fact that just as all those who are part of the family of God are called to be holy, so all Christian families are also called to be holy.  The question is, by what criteria do we judge the holiness of our families; I would hazard a guess that it has something to do with how well we accept the fact that everything we have is a gift from our God, including the good times we cherish and the trials that mold us.

The book of Genesis speaks today of the heart-felt disappointment that Abram and Sarai knew as they advanced in years but remained without a child of their own.  Such disappointment is still present in the hearts of many young (and not so young) couples who have tried to have children but can’t.  Yet, the thing that makes Abram and Sarai models of faith for us is that even though they had all but given up hope of ever having a child of their own, there was always a spark of faith within their hearts.  Even with the smallest amount of faith, we can still speak with God in prayer, and God is always waiting, ready to fan the smallest spark of faith into a blazing flame.  When Abram was courageous enough to speak with God concerning his worry about not having an heir, God responded with the promise: You shall be the father of a multitude of nations (Gn 17:5), and his blessing extended to Sarai, Abram’s wife as well: I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations.  God is always faithful to his word.  So it was that in their old age, Abraham and Sarah knew the great joy of giving birth to their son Isaac.

Anyone who has had the joy of experiencing the birth of a child will be quick to tell you how joyous such occasions can be, but almost in the same breath, they will also confirm that as children grow, they put their parents to the test in ways that no parent could ever have foretold.  It seems that being put to the test is part of the package that comes with parenthood, and it has ever been thus.

Abraham and Sarah were overjoyed at the birth of their son Isaac, and I’m sure that as he grew, he put that poor couple through more than just a few trials, but despite any trial that he could dream up, they continued to love him with all their hearts.  Then God put Abraham to the test again when he asked him to take his son to the land of Moriah and to offer him as a burnt offering.  Saint Paul recalls this test of faith and uses it to teach us that: Abraham considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead – and figuratively speaking he did receive his son back because of this faith (Heb 11:19).

Like Abraham and Sarah, Joseph and Mary also knew the great joy of the birth of their son.  Following the practice of their faith, today’s gospel tells us that they took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Lk 2:22).  This would have been an occasion of great joy for them, but even as the elder Simeon blessed the young infant, the words he spoke would have cast a shadow on their joy: This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed … and a sword will pierce your own soul too (Lk 2:34).  Like Abraham and Sarah, Joseph and Mary would also be put to the test, in ways they could never imagine.

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, let us ask these holy people to pray for us, that the Lord will give us the joy of knowing that we have been richly blessed, and that even at moments when we may be put to the test, we are never alone: our God is never far away, and even if we have the smallest spark of hope within our hearts, God can fan that hope into a blazing flame of faith. 

Angelus for the Holy Family

At noon today, 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 had gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday appointment.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

On this first Sunday after Christmas, while we are still immersed in the joyous atmosphere of celebration, the Church invites us to contemplate the Holy Family of Nazareth.  Today's gospel presents the Virgin Mary and Joseph at the moment when, forty days after the birth of Jesus, they went to the temple in Jerusalem.  They did this in religious obedience to the Law of Moses, which prescribes the offering of offspring to the Lord (cf Lk 2:22-24).

We can imagine this little family in the midst of so many people, in the grand courtyards of the temple.  There is nothing surprising in this scene, nothing distinguishing about it ... and yet it does not go unnoticed!  Two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, inspired by the Holy Spirit, approach and begin to praise God for the gift of this child, in whom they recognize the Messiah, light of the nations and the salvation of Israel (cf Lk 2:22-38).  This is a moment which is simple but rich in prophecy: the encounter between two young spouses filled with joy and faith in the graces of the Lord; and two elderly persons who also are filled with joy and faith in the Spirit's actions.  Who brings them together?  Jesus.  Jesus brings them together: the young and the old.  Jesus is the one who draws all generations together.  He is the font of the love that unites families and persons, overcoming all distrust, all manners of isolation, every distance.  This also makes us think of our grandparents: how important it is that they are present, the presence of grandparents!  How precious is their role in our families and in our society!  Good relationships between the young and the old are invaluable for the journey of a civil and an ecclesial community.  Watching those two elderly persons, our two grandparents - Simeon and Anna - we greet from here, with our applause, all grandparents throughout the world.

The message we draw from the Holy Family is first a message of faith.  In the family of Mary and Joseph, God is truly the focus, in the person of Jesus.  This is the reason why the family of Nazareth is holy.  Why?  Because they are focused on Jesus.

When parents and children together breathe this climate of faith, they possess an energy that allows them to confront difficult trials, as evidenced by the experience of the Holy Family, for example, during the tragic event of the flight into Egypt: it was a difficult trial.

The child Jesus with his Mother Mary and with Saint Joseph are the icon of the family, simple yet illuminating. The light they radiate is a light of mercy and salvation for the whole world, a light of truth for everyone, for the human family and for individual families. This light that comes from the Holy Family encourages us to offer human warmth in those family situations which, for various reasons, lack peace, lack harmony and lack forgiveness. Our concrete solidarity does not fail especially in the challenges of the families that are living in more difficult situations due to sickness, lack of work, discrimination and the need to migrate. And here we pause for a moment and in silence, we pray for all these families in difficulty: be it difficulties of sickness, lack of work, discrimination, the need to migrate, or the lack of understanding each other, or even the lack of unity and support. In silence, we pray for all these families.

After a brief moment of silence, the Pope led the faithful in praying the Hail Mary.

We entrust to Mary, Queen of the family, all the families of the world so that they may live in faith, in harmony, in mutual help ... and for this we invoke upon them Her maternal protection, for she was the mother and daughter of Her Son.

Angelus Domini…

After the recitation of the Angelus, the Pope said the following:

Dear brothers and sisters,

My thoughts turn at this time, to the passengers of the Malaysian airplane that went missing during its flight from Indonesia to Singapore, as well as the passengers on the boats in transit in the last hours in the waters of the Adriatic Sea which were involved in several accidents. I am close to them with the affections and prayers for the families and those who are living through these difficult situations with anxiety and suffering, as well as those involved in rescue operations.

Today, the first greeting goes to the families who are present! May the Holy Family bless you and guide you on your path.

I greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims, in particular the many youth from the Dioceses of Bergamo and Vicenza who have received or are about to receive Confirmation. I greet the families of the Oratory of the Cathedral of Sarzana, the faithful of San Lorenzo in Banale (Trento), the administrators of Sambruson (Venice), the scouts from Villamassargia and the collaborators of the Fraterna Domus.

To all I wish a good Sunday. I thank you once again for your well-wishes and prayers. Please continue to pray for me.

Have a good lunch and goodbye!

Speaking with large families

At 11:30am today, the Feast of the Holy Family, in the Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis met with more than 500 large families who have gathered in Rome from all over Italy for the meeting of the Association of Large Families which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.  Large families from all over Europe are present for this meeting.

During the audience, the Holy Father shared with them the following greetings:

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the meeting with the members of the

Association of Large Families

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

First of all, I have a question, something that I'm curious about; tell me: At what time did you get up this morning?  At 6?  At 5?  You didn't sleep?  Don't worry, I'll let you sleep during this speech!

I am happy to meet you during the tenth anniversary of your association which gathers large families here in Italy.  I see that you love families and that you love life!  It is good to thank the Lord for this gift on the day when we celebrate the Holy Family.

Today's gospel shows Mary and Joseph who are taking the baby Jesus to the temple, and there, they meet two elderly people: Simeon and Anna, who prophesy about the baby.  This is the image of a large family, a little like your own families, where various generations meet and help one another.  I thank Monsignor Paglia, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Family - a specialist in organizing these gatherings - who so dearly desired that this gathering should take place, and also Monsignor Beschi, who has been very involved in helping your Association to blossom and grow in the city of Blessed Paul VI, in Brescia.

You have come here along with the most beautiful fruit of your love.  Maternity and paternity are gifts from God, but to accept this gift, to wonder at its beauty and to make it shine in society: this is your challenge.  Every one of your children is a unique creation which will never be repeated in the story of humanity.  When we understand this truth, which is to say that each of us has been desired by God, we stand in wonder at the great miracle that is a child!  A child changes our lives!  All of us have experienced this - men, women - that when a child is born, life changes, it becomes something else.  A child is a miracle that changes a life.  You, boys and girls, you are the ones who have done this: every one of you is the unique fruit of love, you have come from love and you grow and mature in love.  You are unique, but not alone!  And the fact that you have brothers and sisters is something good for you: the sons and daughters in a large family are more capable of creating fraternal communion even from early childhood.  IN a world which is often characterized by selfishness, a large family is a school of solidarity and sharing: and these attitudes and approaches to life benefit all of society.

You, children and teenagers, are the fruit of the tree which is the family: you are the good fruit that is borne when the tree has good roots - that is your grandparents - and good trunks - which are your parents.  Jesus said that every good tree bears good fruit and every bad tree bears bad fruit (cf Mt 7:17).  The great family of humanity is like a forest, where good trees bring forth solidarity, communion, trust, support, security, happiness and friendship.  The presence of large families represents hope for society.  For this reason, it is very important that you value the presence of your grandparents: a precious presence both for practical assistance and above all for the sake of education.  Grandparents keep within themselves the values of a people, of a family, and they help people to pass these values on to their children.  In the last century, in many countries throughout Europe, there were grandparents passing on their faith: they even secretly brought their grandchildren to the Church to receive Baptism and passed on the gift of faith to them.

Dear parents, I am grateful for the example of love for life that you have maintained from conception to natural death, despite all the difficulties and challenges of life, and which unfortunately, public institutions do not always help to promote.  You rightly mentioned that the Italian Constitution, Article 31, asks for particular attention to be paid to large families: but that this is not adequately reflected in the lived truth; it remains only words.  Considering the low birth rate which has existed in Italy for quite some time now, my hope is that more attention will be paid to this challenge by the politicians and public administrators at every level, so that the envisioned support might be afforded to these families.  Each family is a cell, a miniature of society, but large families are more enriched cells, more vital, and it is in the best interest of the State to invest in them!

It is good that families should be gathered together into an association - such as this Italian one and others from other European countries which are also represented here - it is good that there should be a network of family associations capable of being present and visible in society and in politics.  Saint John Paul II, in this regard, wrote:Families should grow in awareness of being 'protagonists' of what is known as 'family politics' and assume responsibility for transforming society; otherwise families will be the first victims of the evils that they have done nothing more than note with indifference (Familiaris consortio, 44).

The commitment that the family associations develop in the various national and local Forums, is precisely that of promoting the values and needs of the family in society and in the laws of the State. We also welcome the ecclesial movements, in which you members of large families are particularly present and active. I always thank the Lord for mothers and fathers of large families, together with their children who are engaged in the life of the Church and society. For my part, I am close to you in prayer and I place you all under the protection of the Holy Family of Jesus, Joseph and Mary. And some beautiful news is that in Nazareth, a house is being built for families around the world who go as pilgrims to visit the place where Jesus grew in age, wisdom and grace (cf Lk. 2:40).

I pray in particular for the families who are most tested by the economic crisis, situations where the father or mother has lost a job, - and this is hard – where the youth have been unable to find work; I pray for families tried by loved ones and for those tempted to give in to loneliness and division.

Dear friends, dear parents, dear youth, dear children, dear grandparents, happy feast day to all of you. May each one of your families be always rich in the tenderness and consolation of God. I affectionately bless you. And please, continue to pray for me, because in a way I’m like a grandfather for all of you. Pray for me! Thank you.

Condolences to the Jesuits

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has sent a telegram of condolence to the Postulator General of the Society of Jesus, Father Adolfo Nicolás Pachón, SJ upon receiving the news of the death yesterday of His Excellency, Giuseppe Pittau, SJ, formerly Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

Telegram of condolence 

for the death of His Excellency, Giuseppe Pittau, SJ

Most Reverend Father
Adolfo Nicolas Pachon
Superior General of the Society of Jesus
Borgo Santo Spirito 4 00193, ROME

Most Reverend Father,

Having learned of the death of His Excellency, Monsignor Giuseppe Pittau, I wish to express my sincere condolences to you, to fellow Jesuit brothers and to all those who mourn the death of this exemplary minister of God who lived for the cause of the Gospel. Recalling his generous missionary apostolate in Japan, where he ended his earthly life, I give thanks to the Lord for the service he rendered to the Apostolic See, as secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and for his commitment as rector of the Gregorian University in Rome, as well as his dedication to the Society of Jesus. I entrust his soul to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary and, in the light of the Resurrection of Christ, I send my comforting Apostolic blessing.

Franciscus

Remembering the first martyr

At noon today 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 had gathered in Saint Peter's Square.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

before the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today, the liturgy recalls the testimony of Saint Stephen.  Chosen by the Apostles, along with six others, for the service of charity, to assist the poor, the orphaned and the widows of the community of Jerusalem, he became the first martyr of the Church.  With his martyrdom, Stephen honours the coming into the world of the King of kings, bears witness to Him and offers his own life as a gift, as he did in service to those in need.  In this way, he shows us how to live the fullness of the mystery of Christmas.

The gospel for today's feast speaks of a part of the conversation Jesus had with his disciples at the moment when he sent them out with a mission.  He said to them: You will be hated by all because of my name, but those who persevere to the end will be saved (Mt 10:22).  These words of Jesus do not disturb the celebrations of Christmas, but they strip away the false sense of sweetness that does not belong.  They help us to understand that faced with the challenges that we must face because of our faith, violence is defeated by love, death is overcome by life.  And in order to truly welcome Jesus in our lives and to promulgate the joy of Christmas night, the path that is pointed out by this gospel passage, that is to say that we must bear witness to Jesus in humility and in silent service, without fear of going against the current and even by paying the price with our lives.  And even if not all of us are called, like Saint Stephen, to spill our own blood, every Christian is however asked to act in every circumstance in a manner coherent with the faith that he or she professes.  Christian coherence is a grace that we should all ask for from the Lord.  To be coherent, to live as Christians does not mean that I can say: I am a Christian, and then that I can live like a pagan.  Coherence is a grace that we can ask for today.

Following the gospel is certainly a trying road, but it is also a beautiful one, beautiful, and those who follow it faithfully and courageously receive the gift promised by the Lord to men and women of good will.  As the angels sang on Christmas Day: Peace! Peace!  This peace, given by the Lord is capable of soothing the consciences of those who, through the trials of life, learn how to welcome the Word of God and strive to observe it with perseverance, even to the ultimate end (cf Mt 10:22).

Today, brothers and sisters, pray in a particular way for those who are discriminated against, persecuted and put to death because of the witness they give to Christ.  I want to say to every one of them: if you bear this cross with love, you will enter into the mystery of Christmas, you will be in the heart of Christ and of the Church.

Let us also pray that thanks also to the sacrifice of these martyrs today - there are so many, so very many! - the commitment to recognize and concretely secure religious freedom will be supported throughout the world, and that this right will be seen as inalienable to every human person.

Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that you will spend these days of Christmas in serenity.  May Saint Stephen, a deacon and the first martyr, sustain us on our daily journey, a journey which we hope will be crowned at last in the festive assembly of the Saints in paradise.

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

Dear brothers and sisters,

I greet you with the joy of Christmas and I repeat to all of you my wishes for peace: peace in your families, peace in your parish and religious communities, peace in your movements and associations.  I greet all those who are named Stephen or Sephanie: congratulations to you on the day of your patron saint!

In these weeks, I have received many messages and greetings from Rome and from other parts of the world.  It would never be possible for me to respond personally to each one of them, but I want to thank you all today for your greetings, especially for the gift of your prayers.  Heartfelt thanks!  May the Lord reward you for your generosity!

Don't forget: coherent Christians, who think, feel and live as Christians, and don't think like Christians while you live like pagans: this is a no no!  Today, let us ask Saint Stephen for the grace of Christian coherence.  Please, continue to pray for me; don't forget.

Enjoy the feast day, and enjoy your lunch.  Good bye!

A story of old, told anew

Here is the reflection I shared with those who came to celebrate with us at the Masses for Christmas.  Merry Christmas to all of you!

The story that started it all

Congratulations!  You’ve made it to Christmas so just for a moment take a breath.  Let all the stress of the past couple of weeks seep out of you, and pay attention instead to the fresh air that is filling your lungs.  Like this fresh air, God wants us to know that he is here among us, refreshing our souls.  Especially at Christmas time, there’s a part of all of us that remembers a time when we were children, when stories were read to us, when imagination was vibrant, so tonight (today), I wonder if we can listen once more to the story, and hear it with fresh ears.

We are gathered in this church tonight (today) because of a story that unfolded thousands of years ago in the lives of a young couple who lived in Nazareth.  This was a special couple who had been visited by angels, who had heard some strange words: You are to conceive and bear a son (Lk 1:31); and the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:20).  You might say that this couple had a secret.  They understood that this was the way it was supposed to be, but no one else had seen the angels.

Life continued for Mary and Joseph.  By order of the Roman leaders, they had to travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, in order to be registered, and they didn’t travel in great luxury either.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child, and she gave birth to her first-born son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.  The maternity ward where Jesus was born was far from sterile, but he had the warmth of his parents’ love; the love of a couple who knew already that he was a special child, a child who would have a special mission.   Joseph had heard the angel’s words: You will name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Mt 1:21).

The story doesn’t end there, because there were shepherds living in the fields and they too were visited by an angel that night, an angel who spoke some strange words to them:  I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a saviour who is Christ the Lord.   The angel told them where to find the child, and they were filled with great joy as they heard the choirs from heaven sing.  Their hearts were filled with excitement and joy and they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger (cf Lk 2:8-16).

It seems that the land where this story of good news, this story of tender love, this story that inspired great joy in the hearts of the shepherds took place has experienced anything but good news in recent times.  Christians in the Middle East have known afflictions and tribulations especially in the past couple of months because of a terrorist organization which has perpetrated all kinds of abuses and inhuman acts (Letter of the Holy Father, Pope Francis to Christians in the Middle East, December 21, 2014).  In many ways, the Christians of the Middle East still feel as though they are walking in darkness, especially those who have been exiled and now find themselves in foreign lands, but they have indeed seen a great light.  For this reason, they are called to be artisans of peace, reconciliation and development, to promote dialogue, to build bridges in the spirit of the Beatitudes (cf Mt 5:3-12), and to proclaim the Gospel of peace.

This is indeed the challenge that is set before all of us on this Christmas night (day): to proclaim the gospel of peace to our world, to tell everyone who we meet, through our actions and even in spoken words if necessary, that the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people (Ti 2:11).  Inspired by the story that started it all, let us ask the Holy Family of Nazareth to pray for us, that their faith might enflame us with the joy that the shepherds knew so that we too will want to set out with haste in search of the child lying in the manger, and become more and more every day, artisans of peace and reconciliation for our world.

To the city and to the world

At noon today, from the central Loggia of the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis delivered the traditional Christmas message to the faithful who were present in Saint Peter's Square and to those who were listening on the radio and watching on television.  He then imparted the Urbi et Orbi blessing (to the city and to the world).

Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

Urbi et Orbi - to the city and to the world

Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Christmas!

Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, is born for us, born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, fulfilling the ancient prophecies. The Virgin’s name is Mary, the wife of Joseph.

Humble people, full of hope in the goodness of God, are those who welcome Jesus and recognize him. And so the Holy Spirit enlightened the shepherds of Bethlehem, who hastened to the grotto and adored the Child. Then the Spirit led the elderly and humble couple Simeon and Anna into the temple of Jerusalem, and they recognized in Jesus the Messiah. My eyes have seen your salvation, Simeon exclaimed, the salvation prepared by God in the sight of all peoples (Lk 2:30).

Yes, brothers and sisters, Jesus is the salvation for every person and for every people!

Today I ask him, the Saviour of the world, to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who for too long now have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and who, together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution. May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced persons, exiles and refugees, children, adults and elderly, from this region and from the whole world. May indifference be changed into closeness and rejection into hospitality, so that all who now are suffering may receive the necessary humanitarian help to overcome the rigours of winter, return to their countries and live with dignity. May the Lord open hearts to trust, and may he bestow his peace upon the whole Middle East, beginning with the land blessed by his birth, thereby sustaining the efforts of those committed effectively to dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

May Jesus, the Saviour of the world, protect all who suffer in Ukraine, and grant that their beloved land may overcome tensions, conquer hatred and violence, and set out on a new journey of fraternity and reconciliation.

May Christ the Saviour give peace to Nigeria, where (even in these hours) more blood is being shed and too many people are unjustly deprived of their possessions, held as hostages or killed. I invoke peace also on the other parts of the African continent, thinking especially of Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and various regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. I beseech all who have political responsibility to commit themselves through dialogue to overcoming differences and to building a lasting, fraternal coexistence.

May Jesus save the vast numbers of children who are victims of violence, made objects of trade and trafficking, or forced to become soldiers; children, so many abused children. May he give comfort to the families of the children killed in Pakistan last week. May he be close to all who suffer from illness, especially the victims of the Ebola epidemic, above all in Liberia, in Sierra Leone and in Guinea. As I thank all who are courageously dedicated to assisting the sick and their family members, I once more make an urgent appeal that the necessary assistance and treatment be provided.

The Child Jesus. My thoughts turn to all those children today who are killed and ill-treated, be they infants killed in the womb, deprived of that generous love of their parents and then buried in the egoism of a culture that does not love life; be they children displaced due to war and persecution, abused and taken advantage of before our very eyes and our complicit silence. I think also of those infants massacred in bomb attacks, also those where the Son of God was born. Even today, their impotent silence cries out under the sword of so many Herods. On their blood stands the shadow of contemporary Herods. Truly there are so many tears this Christmas, together with the tears of the Infant Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Spirit today enlighten our hearts, that we may recognize in the Infant Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, the salvation given by God to each one of us, to each man and woman and to all the peoples of the earth. May the power of Christ, which brings freedom and service, be felt in so many hearts afflicted by war, persecution and slavery. May this divine power, by its meekness, take away the hardness of heart of so many men and women immersed in worldliness and indifference, the globalization of indifference. May his redeeming strength transform arms into ploughshares, destruction into creativity, hatred into love and tenderness. Then we will be able to cry out with joy: Our eyes have seen your salvation.

With these thoughts I wish you all a Happy Christmas!

Christmas Mass at the Vatican

At 9:30pm last evening, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of the Mass which took place in the Vatican Basilica.  During the Eucharistic celebration, following the proclamation of the gospel, the Pope spoke the following homily:

Pope Francis venerates the statue of the Infant Jesus
following the celebration of Mass on Christmas Eve night

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the celebration of Mass for the

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone (Is 9:1). An angel of the Lord appeared to (the shepherds) and the glory of the Lord shone around them (Lk 2:9). This is how the liturgy of this holy Christmas night presents to us the birth of the Saviour: as the light which pierces and dispels the deepest darkness. The presence of the Lord in the midst of his people cancels the sorrow of defeat and the misery of slavery, and ushers in joy and happiness.

We too, in this blessed night, have come to the house of God. We have passed through the darkness which envelops the earth, guided by the flame of faith which illuminates our steps, and enlivened by the hope of finding the great light. By opening our hearts, we also can contemplate the miracle of that child-sun who, arising from on high, illuminates the horizon.

The origin of the darkness which envelops the world is lost in the night of the ages. Let us think back to that dark moment when the first crime of humanity was committed, when the hand of Cain, blinded by envy, killed his brother Abel (cf Genesis 4:8). As a result, the unfolding of the centuries has been marked by violence, wars, hatred and oppression. But God, who placed a sense of expectation within man made in his image and likeness, was waiting. God was waiting. He waited for so long that perhaps at a certain point it seemed he should have given up. But he could not give up because he could not deny himself (cf 2 Timothy 2:13). Therefore he continued to wait patiently in the face of the corruption of man and peoples. The patience of God. How difficult it is to comprehend this: God’s patience towards us.

Through the course of history, the light that shatters the darkness reveals to us that God is Father and that his patient fidelity is stronger than darkness and corruption. This is the message of Christmas night. God does not know outbursts of anger or impatience; he is always there, like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, waiting to catch from afar a glimpse of the lost son as he returns; and every day, with patience. The patience of God.

Isaiah’s prophecy announces the rising of a great light which breaks through the night. This light is born in Bethlehem and is welcomed by the loving arms of Mary, by the love of Joseph, by the wonder of the shepherds. When the angels announced the birth of the Redeemer to the shepherds, they did so with these words: This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger (Lk 2:12). The sign is in fact the humility of God, the humility of God taken to the extreme; it is the love with which, that night, he assumed our frailty, our suffering, our anxieties, our desires and our limitations. The message that everyone was expecting, that everyone was searching for in the depths of their souls, was none other than the tenderness of God: God who looks upon us with eyes full of love, who accepts our poverty, God who is in love with our smallness.

On this holy night, while we contemplate the Infant Jesus just born and placed in the manger, we are invited to reflect. How do we welcome the tenderness of God? Do I allow myself to be taken up by God, to be embraced by him, or do I prevent him from drawing close? But I am searching for the Lord – we could respond. Nevertheless, what is most important is not seeking him, but rather allowing him to seek me, find me and caress me with tenderness. The question put to us simply by the Infant’s presence is: do I allow God to love me?

More so, do we have the courage to welcome with tenderness the difficulties and problems of those who are near to us, or do we prefer impersonal solutions, perhaps effective but devoid of the warmth of the Gospel? How much the world needs tenderness today! The patience of God, the closeness of God, the tenderness of God.

The Christian response cannot be different from God’s response to our smallness. Life must be met with goodness, with meekness. When we realize that God is in love with our smallness, that he made himself small in order to better encounter us, we cannot help but open our hearts to him, and beseech him: Lord, help me to be like you, give me the grace of tenderness in the most difficult circumstances of life, give me the grace of closeness in the face of every need, of meekness in every conflict.

Dear brothers and sisters, on this holy night we contemplate the Nativity scene: there the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Is 9:1). People who were unassuming, people open to receiving the gift of God, were the ones who saw this light. This light was not seen, however, by the arrogant, the proud, by those who made laws according to their own personal measures, who were closed off to others. Let us look to the crib and pray, asking the Blessed Mother: O Mary, show us Jesus!.

Pope sends video message to South Korea

Earlier today, the Holy Father sent a video message to the people of South Korea.

Video-message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to the people of South Korea

Dear Korean brothers and sisters,

With great pleasure I send you best wishes for the Holy Nativity, recalling with joy and gratitude the voyage I took to your country this past August. The great celebration in honour of the Martyrs, the meeting with young people, and also the other moments of the visit remain vividly in my memory.

I pray to the Lord that the light, shining on the world from the Baby of Bethlehem, might be always in your hearts, in your families and in your communities.

At Christmas, once more, Jesus draws us to Himself with His divine goodness. And Jesus is good, very good … It is His presence only that can give true happiness to mankind; without Him there is no joy, because He is capable of making life ever new and beautiful.

My dear friends, I ask you to pray for me, and with all my heart I wish you a peaceful and holy Christmas!

A letter to Christians in the Middle East

In anticipation of the celebrations of Christmas which will begin later this week, the Holy Father sent a letter today to the Christians living in the Middle East.

Letter of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to Christians in the Middle East

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction, with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God (2 Cor 1:3-4).

When I thought of writing to you, our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East, these words of Saint Paul immediately came to mind. I write to you just before Christmas, knowing that for many of you the music of your Christmas hymns will also be accompanied by tears and sighs. Nonetheless, the birth of the Son of God in our human flesh is an indescribable mystery of consolation: For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all people (Tit 2:11).

Sadly, afflictions and tribulations have not been lacking, even more recently, in the Middle East. They have been aggravated in the past months because of the continuing hostilities in the region, but especially because of the work of a newer and disturbing terrorist organization, of previously unimaginable dimensions, which has perpetrated all kinds of abuses and inhuman acts. It has particularly affected a number of you, who have been brutally driven out of your native lands, where Christians have been present since apostolic times.

Nor, in writing to you, can I remain silent about the members of other religious and ethnic groups who are also experiencing persecution and the effects of these conflicts. Every day I follow the new reports of the enormous suffering endured by many people in the Middle East. I think in particular of the children, the young mothers, the elderly, the homeless and all refugees, the starving and those facing the prospect of a hard winter without adequate shelter. This suffering cries out to God and it calls for our commitment to prayer and concrete efforts to help in any way possible. I want to express to all of you my personal closeness and solidarity, as well as that of the whole Church, and to offer you a word of consolation and hope.

Dear brothers and sisters who courageously bear witness to Jesus in the land blessed by the Lord, our consolation and our hope is Christ himself. I encourage you, then, to remain close to him, like branches on the vine, in the certainty that no tribulation, distress or persecution can separate us from him (cf Rom 8:35). May the trials which you are presently enduring strengthen the faith and the fidelity of each and all of you!

I pray that you will be able to experience fraternal communion modelled on that of the first community of Jerusalem. The unity willed by our Lord is more necessary than ever at these difficult times; it is a gift from God, who appeals to our freedom and awaits our response. May the word of God, the sacraments, prayer and fellowship nourish and continually renew your communities.

The situation in which you are living is a powerful summons to holiness of life, as saints and martyrs of every Christian community have attested. I think with affection and veneration of the pastors and faithful who have lately been killed, often merely for the fact that they were Christians. I think also of those who have been kidnapped, including several Orthodox bishops and priests of various rites. May they soon return, safe and sound, to their homes and communities! I ask God to grant that all this suffering united to the Lord’s cross will bring about much good for the Church and for all the peoples in the Middle East.

In the midst of hostility and conflicts, the communion which you experience in fraternity and simplicity is a sign of God’s Kingdom. I am gratified by the good relations and cooperation which exist between the patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches and those of the Orthodox Churches, and also between the faithful of the different Churches. The sufferings which Christians endure contribute immensely to the cause of unity. It is the ecumenism of blood, which demands a trusting abandonment to the working of the Holy Spirit.

May you always bear witness to Jesus amid your difficulties! Your very presence is precious for the Middle East. You are a small flock, but one with a great responsibility in the land where Christianity was born and first spread. You are like leaven in the dough. Even more than the many contributions which the Church makes in the areas of education, healthcare and social services, which are esteemed by all, the greatest source of enrichment in the region is the presence of Christians themselves, your presence. Thank you for your perseverance!

Your efforts to cooperate with people of other religions, with Jews and Muslims, is another sign of the Kingdom of God. The more difficult the situation, the more interreligious dialogue becomes necessary. There is no other way. Dialogue, grounded in an attitude of openness, in truth and love, is also the best antidote to the temptation to religious fundamentalism, which is a threat for followers of every religion. At the same time, dialogue is a service to justice and a necessary condition for the peace which all so ardently desire.

The majority of you live in environments which are predominantly Muslim. You can help your Muslim fellow citizens to present with discernment a more authentic image of Islam, as so many of them desire, reiterating that Islam is a religion of peace, one which is compatible with respect for human rights and favours peaceful coexistence on the part of all. This will prove beneficial for them and for all society. The tragic situation faced by our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq, as well as by the Yazidi and members of other religious and ethnic communities, demands that all religious leaders clearly speak out to condemn these crimes unanimously and unambiguously, and to denounce the practice of invoking religion in order to justify them.

Dear brothers and sisters, almost all of you are native citizens of your respective countries, and as such you have the duty and the right to take full part in the life and progress of your nations. Within the region you are called to be artisans of peace, reconciliation and development, to promote dialogue, to build bridges in the spirit of the Beatitudes (cf Mt 5:3:12), and to proclaim the Gospel of peace, in a spirit of ready cooperation with all national and international authorities.

In a special way I would like to express my esteem and gratitude to you, dear brother patriarchs, bishops, priests, and men and women religious, who accompany the journey of your communities with loving concern. How valuable is the presence and work of those completely consecrated to the Lord, serving him in their brothers and sisters, especially those in greatest need, and thus witnessing to his grandeur and his infinite love! How important is the presence of pastors in the midst of their flocks, especially in times of trouble!

To the young I send a paternal embrace. I pray for your faithfulness, your human and Christian development, and the attainment of your hopes and dreams. I repeat to you: Do not be afraid or ashamed to be Christian. Your relationship with Jesus will help you to cooperate generously with your fellow citizens, whatever their religious affiliation (Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, 63).

To the elderly I express my respect and esteem. You are the memory of your peoples. I pray that this memory will become a seed which can grow and benefit generations yet to come.

I wish to encourage all of you who work in the very important fields of charity and education. I admire the work you do, especially through Caritas and other Catholic charitable organizations in the different countries, in providing help to anyone who asks, without discrimination. Through this witness of charity you help support the life of society and you contribute to the peace for which the region hungers as if for bread. Education too is critical for the future of society. How important it is for promoting the culture of encounter, respect for the dignity of each person and the absolute value of every human being!

Dear brothers and sisters, even though you may not be numerous, you play a significant role in the Church and in the countries where you live. The entire Church is close to you and supports you, with immense respect and affection for your communities and your mission. We will continue to assist you with our prayers and with every other means at our disposal.

At the same time I continue to urge the international community to address your needs and those of other suffering minorities, above all by promoting peace through negotiation and diplomacy, for the sake of stemming and stopping as soon as possible the violence which has already caused so much harm. I once more condemn in the strongest possible terms the trafficking of arms. Instead, what are needed are plans and initiatives for peace, so as to further a global solution to the region’s problems. How much longer must the Middle East suffer from the lack of peace? We must not resign ourselves to conflicts as if change were not possible! In the spirit of my pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the subsequent prayer meeting in the Vatican with the Israeli and Palestinian presidents, I encourage you to continue to pray for peace in the Middle East. May those forced to leave their lands be able to return and to live in dignity and security. May humanitarian aid increase and always have as its central concern the good of each individual and each country, respecting their identity and without any other agendas. May the entire Church and the international community become ever more conscious of the importance of your presence in the region.

Dear Christian brothers and sisters of the Middle East, you have an enormous responsibility and in meeting it you are not alone. That is why I wanted to write to you, to encourage you and to let you know how precious your presence and your mission are in the land which the Lord has blessed. Your witness means a lot to me! Thank you! I pray for you and your intentions every day. I thank you because I know that, amid your sufferings, you also pray for me and for my service to the Church. I do hope to have the chance to come to you in person and to visit and to comfort you. May the Virgin Mary, the All-Holy Mother of God and our Mother, accompany you and protect you always with her tender love. To all of you and your families I impart my Apostolic Blessing, and I pray that your celebration of Christmas will be filled with the love and peace of Christ our Saviour.

From the Vatican
21 December 2014
4th Sunday of Advent