Yesterday afternoon, by video feed from the Vatican, the Holy Father symbolically lit the lights on the Christmas tree and at the Crib set up in the courtyard outside the Inferior Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. The crib is assembled in a boat which carried some migrants from Tunisia to Lampedusa.
The ceremony of lighting the tree and the crib took place at the end of the Mass which was celebrated within the Inferior Basilica by His Excellency, Georg Ganswein, Prefect of the Papal Household.
Greeting the participants present for the lighting of the tree and the crib by video - including 31 refugees who are being helped by Caritas within the Diocese of Assisi - Pope Francis addressed the following words:
Seeing this boat … (the crib is set up within a small boat), Jesus is always with you, even in difficult moments. How many of your brothers and sisters have drowned on the sea! They are with the Lord now. But He came to give us hope, and we should take hold of this hope. He came to tell us that He is stronger than death, that He is greater than any evil. He came to tell us that he is merciful, all merciful; and this Christmas, I invite you to open your heart to this mercy, to forgiveness. It's not easy to forgive such massacres, not easy!
I want to thank the members of the Coast Guard: they are brave women and men. I thank you with all my heart, for you are instruments of hope who carry Jesus within you. Among us, you were sowers of hope, of Jesus' hope. Thank you, Antonio, to you and all of your companions and to all those all over Italy who have so generously welcomed others: Southern Italy has given an example of solidarity for all the world to see! May everyone who looks upon this tree be able to say: I too have lent a hand because you are signs of hope.
To all the refugees, I want to say a word, the word of the prophet: Lift up your heads, the Lord is close. Our strength, our salvation and our hope are in Him. Perhaps your hearts are suffering, but lift up your heads in hope to the Lord.
All of you refugees, and all of you, members of the Coast Guard: I want to thank you and wish you Merry Christmas. May you be filled with hope and with many caresses from the Lord.
The ceremony of lighting the tree and the crib took place at the end of the Mass which was celebrated within the Inferior Basilica by His Excellency, Georg Ganswein, Prefect of the Papal Household.
Greeting the participants present for the lighting of the tree and the crib by video - including 31 refugees who are being helped by Caritas within the Diocese of Assisi - Pope Francis addressed the following words:
Words of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
spoken before the lighting of the tree and the creche
Seeing this boat … (the crib is set up within a small boat), Jesus is always with you, even in difficult moments. How many of your brothers and sisters have drowned on the sea! They are with the Lord now. But He came to give us hope, and we should take hold of this hope. He came to tell us that He is stronger than death, that He is greater than any evil. He came to tell us that he is merciful, all merciful; and this Christmas, I invite you to open your heart to this mercy, to forgiveness. It's not easy to forgive such massacres, not easy!
I want to thank the members of the Coast Guard: they are brave women and men. I thank you with all my heart, for you are instruments of hope who carry Jesus within you. Among us, you were sowers of hope, of Jesus' hope. Thank you, Antonio, to you and all of your companions and to all those all over Italy who have so generously welcomed others: Southern Italy has given an example of solidarity for all the world to see! May everyone who looks upon this tree be able to say: I too have lent a hand because you are signs of hope.
To all the refugees, I want to say a word, the word of the prophet: Lift up your heads, the Lord is close. Our strength, our salvation and our hope are in Him. Perhaps your hearts are suffering, but lift up your heads in hope to the Lord.
All of you refugees, and all of you, members of the Coast Guard: I want to thank you and wish you Merry Christmas. May you be filled with hope and with many caresses from the Lord.
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