Pope at Christmas Mass in Rome: "Our hearts are in Bethlehem tonight"
In his sermon to around 6,500 faithful who celebrated Christmas Eve with him in Rome, the 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church made no mention of Israel or the Gaza Strip. However, he made numerous allusions to violence and war.
God does not "invade with boundless power", he does not "conquer injustice from above with violence, but from below with love", said Francis. In his weekly Angelus prayer, he had previously emphasized "that we are close to our brothers and sisters who are suffering from war - we think of Palestine, Israel, Ukraine".
In his sermon in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis also spoke out against a culture of "consumption" and "obsession with performance", as he had done last year. The idea of God as a "powerful ruler" who is associated with "worldly success and the idolatry of consumption" is wrong, he said.
On Monday afternoon, Francis proclaimed his Christmas message, in which he usually addresses the conflicts in the world. From the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, he gives the solemn blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world).
Meanwhile, in Bethlehem on the West Bank, the biblical birthplace of Jesus, Christmas is celebrated in a rather subdued mood. In view of the war between Israel and Hamas, the town council and church representatives decided to refrain from "unnecessarily festive" celebrations. The usual rush of visitors also failed to materialize.
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- Despite the subdued celebration in Bethlehem, the town's Christmas mass is still a significant event, attracting many visitors from around the world.
- Pope Francis often uses his Christmas mass to address global conflicts, but this year, he focused on love and countering violence, making no direct mention of the Israel-Gaza Strip situation in his sermon in St. Peter's Cathedral.
- This year's Christmas Eve service in Rome saw Pope Francis deliver a message of love, emphasizing that God does not conquer injustice with violence but with love.
- The Pope's sermon touched on the culture of consumption and obsession with performance, a topic he had addressed last year as well.
- As the Pope delivered his annual Christmas message, the situation was quite different in Bethlehem, the Gaza Strip remaining in a state of conflict.
- In consideration of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the town council and church representatives decided to tone down Christmas celebrations, opting against "unnecessarily festive" festivities.
- Saint Peter's Cathedral, the stunning backdrop for the Pope's Christmas Eve sermon, is a magnificent testament to the Church's rich history and influence, bringing together thousands of faithful each year.
- In the spirit of love and unity, Pope Francis called on the world to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, emphasizing that it is the celebration of God's love for humanity.
- In the evening of saint's eve, the Pope addressed his congregation, reminding them of the importance of love and compassion, especially during times of conflict and uncertainty.
- While the West Bank town of Bethlehem may have experienced a more subdued celebration, the message of love and peace embodied in the birthday of Jesus resounded just as powerfully as the bells echoed through Saint Peter's Cathedral in Rome.
- Without naming specific conflicts, Pope Francis' Christmas message was a powerful call for love and understanding, inviting everyone to consider the importance of overcoming conflict with love, following in the footsteps of "our" Catholic Church's greatest teacher, Saint Peter.
Source: www.stern.de
