At noon today (Rome time), at the conclusion of the Mass that was celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God and the 51st World Day of Peace, His Holiness, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to lead the prayer of the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
On the first page of the calendar in this new year which the Lord has given to us, the Church proposes, as in stupendous miniature, the liturgical Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God. On this first day of the solar year, we fix our gaze on her, in order to continue the path that travels through time under her maternal protection.
Today's gospel (cf Lk 2:16-21) brings us back to the stable in Bethlehem. The shepherds arrive in haste and find Mary, Joseph and the Child; and they recall the proclamation that was made to them by the angels: that this newborn child is the Saviour. Everyone was astonished, but for her part, Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart (Lk 2:19). The Virgin helps us to understand how we can accept the events of Christmas: not superficially but in our hearts. She shows us the way to truly receive the gift of God: to keep it in our hearts and to meditate upon it. Hers is an invitation for each of us to pray, contemplate and taste the gift of Jesus himself.
It is through Mary that the Son of God takes on flesh. But the maternity of Mary cannot be reduced only to this level: thanks to her faith, she is also the first of Jesus' disciples and this expands her maternity. It was Mary's faith that brought about the first miraculous sign in Cana, which also helped to arouse the faith of the disciples. With this same faith, Mary was present at the foot of the cross and received the apostle John as her son; and finally, after the Resurrection, she became the prayerful mother of the Church over which the Holy Spirit descended in power on the day of Pentecost.
As a mother, Mary has a very special function: she places herself between her Son Jesus and all mankind in the reality of their needs, in the reality of their poverty and suffering. Mary intercedes, as she did at Cana, aware of the fact that as a mother, she can, rather she must present the needs of mankind to her Son, especially those of the people who are weakest and most in need. It is precisely to these people that the theme of today's World Day of Peace is dedicated: Migrants and refugees - men and women in search of peace. This is the theme for today. Once again, I wish to add my voice to those of our brothers and sisters who call out for a horizon of peace. For this peace, which is the right of every one of us, many people are willing to risk their lives on a journey that in most cases is long and precarious; they are ready to face hardships and sufferings (cf Message for the World Day of Peace 2018, 1).
Please do not shut off the hope that is in their hearts; do not stifle their expectations for peace! It is important that everyone: civil institutions, people in education, assistance and ecclesiastical organizations are committed to ensuring that refugees, migrants and everyone else has the possibility for a future of peace. May the Lord grant us the opportunity to work during this coming year with generosity, with generosity, in order to create a more supportive and welcoming world. I invite you to pray for this, while together with you I entrust to Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, this year 2018 which has just begun. Old Russian monks and mystics said that in times of spiritual turbulence it is always necessary to gather under the mantle of the Holy Mother of God. Weighed down by so many difficulties today, and above all those that are faced by migrants and refugees, let us pray like they have taught us to pray: Under your protection we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God: do not despise the supplications that we present, but free us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Standing on the threshold of 2018, I extend to all of you my cordial greetings for blessings and good wishes during this new year!
I wish to thank the President of the Italian Republic for the good wishes he sent last night in his Message for the end of the year and which I willingly exchange with him, hoping that all Italians will have a year of serenity and peace, illuminated by God's constant blessings.
I express my appreciation for the many initiatives of prayer and action for the sake of peace, organized in every part of the world on the occasion of today's World Day of Peace. I think especially of the National March which took place last night in Sotto il Monte, organized by the Italian Bishops' Conference, Caritas Italy, Pax Christi and Catholic Action. And I greet the participants taking part in the demonstration entitled Pace in tutte le terre (Peace in all lands), promoted here in Rome and in many other countries by the Sant'Egidio Community. Dear friends, I encourage you to go forward with joy in your commitment to solidarity, especially in the peripheries of every city, in order to favour peaceful living conditions.
I extend my greetings to all of you, dear pilgrims here present, especially to those who have come from New York, members of the musical band from California and the group known as Pro Loco from Massalengo.
I renew my wishes to all of you for a year of peace in the grace of the Lord and with the maternal protection of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Happy New Year, enjoy your lunch and don't forget to pray for me. Good bye!
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
On the first page of the calendar in this new year which the Lord has given to us, the Church proposes, as in stupendous miniature, the liturgical Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God. On this first day of the solar year, we fix our gaze on her, in order to continue the path that travels through time under her maternal protection.
Today's gospel (cf Lk 2:16-21) brings us back to the stable in Bethlehem. The shepherds arrive in haste and find Mary, Joseph and the Child; and they recall the proclamation that was made to them by the angels: that this newborn child is the Saviour. Everyone was astonished, but for her part, Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart (Lk 2:19). The Virgin helps us to understand how we can accept the events of Christmas: not superficially but in our hearts. She shows us the way to truly receive the gift of God: to keep it in our hearts and to meditate upon it. Hers is an invitation for each of us to pray, contemplate and taste the gift of Jesus himself.
It is through Mary that the Son of God takes on flesh. But the maternity of Mary cannot be reduced only to this level: thanks to her faith, she is also the first of Jesus' disciples and this expands her maternity. It was Mary's faith that brought about the first miraculous sign in Cana, which also helped to arouse the faith of the disciples. With this same faith, Mary was present at the foot of the cross and received the apostle John as her son; and finally, after the Resurrection, she became the prayerful mother of the Church over which the Holy Spirit descended in power on the day of Pentecost.
As a mother, Mary has a very special function: she places herself between her Son Jesus and all mankind in the reality of their needs, in the reality of their poverty and suffering. Mary intercedes, as she did at Cana, aware of the fact that as a mother, she can, rather she must present the needs of mankind to her Son, especially those of the people who are weakest and most in need. It is precisely to these people that the theme of today's World Day of Peace is dedicated: Migrants and refugees - men and women in search of peace. This is the theme for today. Once again, I wish to add my voice to those of our brothers and sisters who call out for a horizon of peace. For this peace, which is the right of every one of us, many people are willing to risk their lives on a journey that in most cases is long and precarious; they are ready to face hardships and sufferings (cf Message for the World Day of Peace 2018, 1).
Please do not shut off the hope that is in their hearts; do not stifle their expectations for peace! It is important that everyone: civil institutions, people in education, assistance and ecclesiastical organizations are committed to ensuring that refugees, migrants and everyone else has the possibility for a future of peace. May the Lord grant us the opportunity to work during this coming year with generosity, with generosity, in order to create a more supportive and welcoming world. I invite you to pray for this, while together with you I entrust to Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, this year 2018 which has just begun. Old Russian monks and mystics said that in times of spiritual turbulence it is always necessary to gather under the mantle of the Holy Mother of God. Weighed down by so many difficulties today, and above all those that are faced by migrants and refugees, let us pray like they have taught us to pray: Under your protection we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God: do not despise the supplications that we present, but free us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Standing on the threshold of 2018, I extend to all of you my cordial greetings for blessings and good wishes during this new year!
I wish to thank the President of the Italian Republic for the good wishes he sent last night in his Message for the end of the year and which I willingly exchange with him, hoping that all Italians will have a year of serenity and peace, illuminated by God's constant blessings.
I express my appreciation for the many initiatives of prayer and action for the sake of peace, organized in every part of the world on the occasion of today's World Day of Peace. I think especially of the National March which took place last night in Sotto il Monte, organized by the Italian Bishops' Conference, Caritas Italy, Pax Christi and Catholic Action. And I greet the participants taking part in the demonstration entitled Pace in tutte le terre (Peace in all lands), promoted here in Rome and in many other countries by the Sant'Egidio Community. Dear friends, I encourage you to go forward with joy in your commitment to solidarity, especially in the peripheries of every city, in order to favour peaceful living conditions.
I extend my greetings to all of you, dear pilgrims here present, especially to those who have come from New York, members of the musical band from California and the group known as Pro Loco from Massalengo.
I renew my wishes to all of you for a year of peace in the grace of the Lord and with the maternal protection of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Happy New Year, enjoy your lunch and don't forget to pray for me. Good bye!
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