HOW HIS HOLINESS 87TH BIRTHDAY, HOLY WAR IN THOUGHTS IN CHRISTMAS CONCERT, WAR IS TERRORISM ... ... (1384 hits)
For Immediate Release From Vatican!
Pope Celebrates 87th Birthday, Asks Christians To Celebrate Jesus’ Birth
As well-wishes pour in for his birthday, Pope Francis encourages Christians to prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
By Devin Watkins
Pope Francis turned 87 years old on Sunday, 17 December.
As he often does ahead of Christmas, the Pope spent a few moments with children and families assisted by the Santa Marta Dispensary, who presented him with a birthday cake and sang ‘Happy Birthday’.
The Santa Marta Dispensary has provided medical assistance to children and families in need for over 90 years, and is based just a stone’s throw away from the Pope’s residence inside the Vatican. It was established in 1922 by Pope Pius XI.
In brief remarks, Pope Francis thanked those present for their birthday wishes.
He also urged everyone to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus as Christians celebrate His birth at Christmas.
“We need to prepare ourselves for the great feast of Christmas, which will be next week,” he said. “It is the feast when we think and recall when Jesus came among us. He came to be with us.”
The Pope invited the children and families gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall to close their eyes and think about what special grace they would like to ask Jesus for this Christmas.
He wrapped up his words of greeting by extending his Christmas greetings.
“Merry Christmas to you all,” he said. “Keep those smiles on your faces, and may the Lord grant you everything you desire. Thank you!”
He offered Pope Francis his “most sincere and affectionate wishes for well-being and for the fruitful continuation of your prolific magisterium.”
The Italian Bishop’s Conference took the opportunity to pray for peace in our war-torn world.
“We believe this would be the best gift for our Churches,” said the Bishops. “We, together with you, want to be artisans of peace to overcome a culture of war, hatred, ignorance, and prejudice.”
The Pope invited the children and families gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall to close their eyes and think about what special grace they would like to ask Jesus for this Christmas.
He wrapped up his words of greeting by extending his Christmas greetings.
“Merry Christmas to you all,” he said. “Keep those smiles on your faces, and may the Lord grant you everything you desire. Thank you!”
Pope condemns attacks on civilians in Gaza: ‘It is war; it is terrorism’
Pope Francis launches a heartfelt appeal for an end to the “terrorism” of war, and condemns an Israeli military attack on Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Parish, which killed two Christian women and destroyed a convent of the Missionaries of Charity. By Devin Watkins
Pope Francis appealed on Sunday for an end to the war ravaging the Holy Land, praying especially for Christians holed up in the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza.
At the Angelus prayer, the Pope said he continues to receive troubling news from Gaza, where “unarmed civilians are the targets of bombings and gunfire.”
Pope Francis condemned an attack on the compound of the Catholic parish, “where there are no terrorists, but families, children, people who are sick and have disabilities, and nuns.”
“A mother, Mrs. Nahida Khalil Anton, and her daughter, Samar Kamal Anton, were killed, and others were wounded by the shooters while they were going to the bathroom,” said the Pope.
“Some say, ‘This is terrorism. This is war.’ Yes, it is war. It is terrorism,” he said. “That is why the Scripture affirms that ‘God stops wars… breaks the bow, splinters the spear’ (Psalm 46:10). Let us pray to the Lord for peace.”
Pope Francis also recalled people in various parts of the world who are suffering due to war.
“Let us not forget our brothers and sisters suffering from war, in Ukraine, in Palestine and Israel, and in other conflict zones,” he said. “May the approach of Christmas strengthen the commitment to open paths of peace.”
IDF attack on Catholic parish
On Saturday, Israeli forces carried out heavy bombardment in the area surrounding Gaza’s only Catholic parish.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem released a statement alleging that an IDF tank fired a rocket which struck the Convent of the Missionaries of Charity, destroying the building’s generator and setting off a massive blaze that damaged the house.
Two more rockets reportedly rendered the convent uninhabitable for the 54 people with disabilities for whom the Sisters of Mother Theresa were caring.
“"The Convent is home to over 54 disabled persons and is part of the church compound, which was signalled as a place of worship since the beginning of the war," said the Patriarchate.
Pope: 'At Christmas let us think about the Holy Land'
Meeting a group of actors performing a Living Nativity Scene at the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major, Pope Francis again turns his thoughts to the war ravaging the Holy Land. By Lisa Zengarini
Pope Francis has once again reiterated his closeness to all the people suffering the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
During an audience on Saturday with a group of actors featuring in a Living Nativity Scene at the Patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, he called on Christians to turn their thoughts and prayers this Christmas to the Holy Land.
Praying for all those suffering the war
“We know the situation, caused by the war, the consequence of a conflict that has lasted for decades.” he said, remarking that for Palestinians living in Bethlehem too this Christmas will be marked by suffering and grieving, with no pilgrims and celebrations.
Gaza, and rising tensions also in the West Bank, in Bethlehem tourism has halted and pilgrimages have been suspended, while all public celebrations have been cancelled, resulting in further hardships for its inhabitants many of whom live on tourism and pilgrimages. “We don't want to leave them alone”, said Pope Francis, urging for prayers and tangible support.
The historical connection between Bethlehem and St. Mary Major In his speech, the Pope recalled the close connection of the Basilica of St. Mary Major to Jesus’ birthplace which goes back to the first centuries of Christianity. The ancient Roman church has a precious relic of pieces of Christ's crib sent from Bethlehem by St. Sophronius, then the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to Pope Theodore I in the seventh century. For this reason, it was also referred to as "the Bethlehem of the West."
Living Nativity scenes are not mere folkloric facts
Also, its underground Chapel of the Nativity once displayed the first known nativity scene figurines, sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio in the late 13th century for Pope Nicholas IV, who was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, creator of the first Living Nativity in Greccio, Italy, 800 years ago.
Referring to this detail , Pope Francis remarked that living nativity scenes must not be reduced to mere folkloric facts. Their purpose, as intended by St. Francis, he said, must “be to reawaken wonder in the heart, before the mystery of God who became a child.”
“Francis wanted to represent in life the birth of Jesus to inspire, in friars and in the people, emotion and tenderness towards the mystery of God born of Mary in a stable and laid in a manger. He wanted to give substance to the representation: not a painting, not statues, but people in flesh and blood, in order to highlight the reality of the incarnation.”
Suffering of Bethlehem is an open wound for the world
Concluding his address, Pope Francis reiterated his call to think about the Holy Land at Christmas, noting that the Living Nativity Scene in St. Mary Major will help remind everyone “of how the suffering of Bethlehem is an open wound for the Middle East and for the entire world.”
