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Pope Benedict XVI- Messages - Christmas |
Pope Benedict XVI's Urbi et Orbi Christmas Message
"Neither Individuals Nor Nations Should Be Afraid to Recognize and
Welcome Him"
His Holiness Benedict XVI
December 25, 2007
"A holy day
has dawned upon us.
Come you nations and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth."
(Day Mass of Christmas, Gospel Acclamation)
Dear Brothers and Sisters! "A holy day has dawned upon us." A
day of great hope: today the Saviour of mankind is born. The
birth of a child normally brings a light of hope to those who
are waiting anxiously. When Jesus was born in the stable at
Bethlehem, a "great light" appeared on earth; a great hope
entered the hearts of those who awaited him: in the words of
today's Christmas liturgy, "lux magna". Admittedly it was not
"great" in the manner of this world, because the first to see it
were only Mary, Joseph and some shepherds, then the Magi, the
old man Simeon, the prophetess Anna: those whom God had chosen.
Yet, in the shadows and silence of that holy night, a great and
inextinguishable light shone forth for every man; the great hope
that brings happiness entered into the world: "the Word was made
flesh and we saw his glory" (Jn 1:14).
"God is light", says Saint John, "and in him is no darkness at
all" (1 Jn 1:5). In the Book of Genesis we read that when the
universe was created, "the earth was without form and void, and
darkness was upon the face of the deep." "God said, ‘Let there
be light'; and there was light." (Gen 1:2-3). The creative Word
of God is Light, the source of life. All things were made
through the Logos, not one thing had its being but through him
(cf. Jn 1:3). That is why all creatures are fundamentally good
and bear within themselves the stamp of God, a spark of his
light. Nevertheless, when Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, the
Light himself came into the world: in the words of the Creed,
"God from God, Light from Light". In Jesus, God assumed what he
was not, while remaining what he was: "omnipotence entered an
infant's body and did not cease to govern the universe" (cf.
Saint Augustine, Sermo 184, No. 1 on Christmas). The Creator of
man became man in order to bring peace to the world. For this
reason, during Christmas night, the hosts of angels sing: "Glory
to God in the highest, and peace on earth to those whom he
loves" (Lk 2:14).
"Today a great light has come upon the earth". The Light of
Christ is the bearer of peace. At Midnight Mass, the Eucharistic
liturgy begins with this very chant: "Today true peace has come
down to us from heaven" (Entrance Antiphon). Indeed, it is only
the "great" light manifested in Christ that can give "true"
peace to men: that is why every generation is called to welcome
it, to welcome the God who in Bethlehem became one of us.
This is Christmas - the historical event and the mystery of
love, which for more than two thousand years has spoken to men
and women of every era and every place. It is the holy day on
which the "great light" of Christ shines forth, bearing peace!
Certainly, if we are to recognize it, if we are to receive it,
faith is needed and humility is needed. The humility of Mary,
who believed in the word of the Lord and, bending low over the
manger, was the first to adore the fruit of her womb; the
humility of Joseph, the just man, who had the courage of faith
and preferred to obey God rather than to protect his own
reputation; the humility of the shepherds, the poor and
anonymous shepherds, who received the proclamation of the
heavenly messenger and hastened towards the stable, where they
found the new-born child and worshipped him, full of
astonishment, praising God (cf. Lk 2:15-20). The little ones,
the poor in spirit: they are the key figures of Christmas, in
the past and in the present; they have always been the key
figures of God's history, the indefatigable builders of his
Kingdom of justice, love and peace.
In the silence of that night in Bethlehem, Jesus was born and
lovingly welcomed. And now, on this Christmas Day, when the
joyful news of his saving birth continues to resound, who is
ready to open the doors of his heart to the holy child? Men and
women of this modern age, Christ comes also to us bringing his
light, he comes also to us granting peace! But who is watching,
in the night of doubt and uncertainty, with a vigilant, praying
heart? Who is waiting for the dawn of the new day, keeping
alight the flame of faith? Who has time to listen to his word
and to become enfolded and entranced by his love? Yes! His
message of peace is for everyone; he comes to offer himself to
all people as sure hope for salvation.
Finally, may the light of Christ, which comes to enlighten every
human being, shine forth and bring consolation to those who live
in the darkness of poverty, injustice and war; to those who are
still denied their legitimate aspirations for a more secure
existence, for health, education, stable employment, for fuller
participation in civil and political responsibilities, free from
oppression and protected from conditions that offend against
human dignity. It is the most vulnerable members of society -
women, children, the elderly - who are so often the victims of
brutal armed conflicts, terrorism and violence of every kind,
which inflict such terrible sufferings on entire populations. At
the same time, ethnic, religious and political tensions,
instability, rivalry, disagreements, and all forms of injustice
and discrimination are destroying the internal fabric of many
countries and embittering international relations. Throughout
the world the number of migrants, refugees and evacuees is also
increasing because of frequent natural disasters, often caused
by alarming environmental upheavals.
On this day of peace, my thoughts turn especially to those
places where the grim sound of arms continues to reverberate; to
the tortured regions of Darfur, Somalia, the north of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, the border between Eritrea and
Ethiopia; to the whole of the Middle East - especially Iraq,
Lebanon and the Holy Land; to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka, to the Balkans and to many other crisis situations that
unfortunately are frequently forgotten. May the Child Jesus
bring relief to those who are suffering and may he bestow upon
political leaders the wisdom and courage to seek and find
humane, just and lasting solutions. To the thirst for meaning
and value so characteristic of today's world, to the search for
prosperity and peace that marks the lives of all mankind, to the
hopes of the poor: Christ - true God and true Man - responds
with his Nativity. Neither individuals nor nations should be
afraid to recognize and welcome him: with Him "a shining light"
brightens the horizon of humanity; in him "a holy day" dawns
that knows no sunset. May this Christmas truly be for all people
a day of joy, hope and peace!
"Come you nations and adore the Lord." With Mary, Joseph and the
shepherds, with the Magi and the countless host of humble
worshippers of the new-born Child, who down the centuries have
welcomed the mystery of Christmas, let us too, brothers and
sisters from every continent, allow the light of this day to
spread everywhere: may it enter our hearts, may it brighten and
warm our homes, may it bring serenity and hope to our cities,
and may it give peace to the world. This is my earnest wish for
you who are listening. A wish that grows into a humble and
trustful prayer to the Child Jesus, that his light will dispel
all darkness from your lives and fill you with love and peace.
May the Lord, who has made his merciful face to shine in Christ,
fill you with his happiness and make you messengers of his
goodness. Happy Christmas!
[Original text: Italian]
[After the traditional blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city of
Rome and the world), the Pope gave Christmas greetings in 63
languages. In English, he said:]
May the birth of the Prince of Peace remind the world where its
true happiness lies; and may your hearts be filled with hope and
joy, for the Saviour has been born for us.
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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