Pope Francis spoke of “war storms” in his Christmas message in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. He also warned against a possible “demise of man, social fabric and environment”. He refore urged people to be more compassionate. They should be committed to “shaping our world more humane and worthy for children of today and tomorrow.” In particular, on this first Christmas Day, pope called for peace for Jerusalem, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Korea, Venezuela and Africa. He n spoke about 50,000 believers from loggia of St to traditional Urbi-et-Orbi blessing.
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In his prayer, Francis warned of a furr escalation of conflict over Jerusalem between Israel and Palestinians. “We are praying that opponents will be able to regain dialogue and that we can finally reach a negotiated solution which, within mutually agreed and internationally recognised borders, is a peaceful coexistence of two States, “said Argentine.
US President Donald Trump had recognized Jerusalem as capital of Israel at beginning of December. The move triggered international criticism and led to furr unrest. The UN General Assembly voted against such recognition in a non-binding resolution by a large majority. Francis highlighted efforts of those “who in international community have goodwill to assist that afflicted country, that despite serious obstacles to long-awaited, y find Concord, justice and Security”.
Francis also responded to suffering of children and called for refugee children to be welcomed. “We see Jesus in many children who are forced to leave ir countries, to travel alone under inhumane conditions, and thus become simple prey of traffickers,” he said. In her eyes, drama of many people who risked ir lives to take up forces hungering journeys, some of which ended in tragedies, was seen. “Our hearts may not be closed, as were houses of Bethlehem,” said Pope.
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Even at Christmas Eve, Francis had called for more compassion for refugees. In doing so, he took Christmas story as a picture for present time: even Mary and Josef would have had to experience on ir arrival in Bethlehem that “no one was expecting re to be no place for m re”. Since beginning of his tenure, Francis has been particularly committed to refugees and marginalized persons.
“We see traces of millions of people who do not voluntarily go, but are forced to separate from ir loved ones because y are expelled from ir land,” continued Pope. Many made ir way to survive – “to survive current successors of Herod, who do not shy away from shedding innocent blood to enforce ir power and to increase ir wealth.” Christmas is time to “turn power of fear into a force of love, into a force for a new conception of charity.”
