Last year, for the first time in my pilgrimages to Paris at Christmas, I had to go through metal detectors and cross a ton of French security to get to midnight mass. This year, the thousands of people attending the midnight mass at St Peter’s Basilica all went through serious security checks in the wake of ISIS threats to attack Christian churches. Pope Francis addressed the trying times around the globe, naming many places that so desperately need peace. The NBC translator, Father Manuel Dorantes of Chicago, did an excellent job narrating.
Here is an excerpt from Pope Francis’ Christmas Eve Urbi et Orbi message from St Peter’s Basilica:
Where God is born, hope is born. He brings hope. Where God is born, peace is born. And where peace is born, there is no longer room for hatred and for war. Yet precisely where the incarnate Son of God came into the world,(Judea/Palestine) tensions and violence persist, and peace remains a gift to be implored and built. May Israelis and Palestinians resume direct dialogue and reach an agreement which will enable the two peoples to live together in harmony, ending a conflict which has long set them at odds, with grave repercussions for the entire region.
Pope Francis kisses a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
We pray to the Lord that the agreement reached in the United Nations may succeed in halting as quickly as possible the clash of arms in Syria and in remedying the extremely grave humanitarian situation of its suffering people. It is likewise urgent that the agreement on Libya be supported by all, so as to overcome the grave divisions and violence afflicting the country. May the attention of the international community be unanimously directed to ending the atrocities which in those countries, as well as in Iraq, Libya, Yemen and sub-Saharan Africa, even now reap numerous victims, cause immense suffering and do not even spare the historical and cultural patrimony of entire peoples. My thoughts also turn to those affected by brutal acts of terrorism, particularly the recent massacres which took place in Egyptian airspace, in Beirut, Paris, Bamako and Tunis.
To our brothers and sisters who in many parts of the world are being persecuted for their faith, may the Child Jesus grant consolation and strength. They are our martyrs of today.
We also pray for peace and concord among the peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and South Sudan, that dialogue may lead to a strengthened common commitment to the building of civil societies animated by a sincere spirit of reconciliation and of mutual understanding.
May Christmas also bring true peace to Ukraine, offer comfort to those suffering from the effects of the conflict, and inspire willingess to carry out the agreements made to restore concord in the entire country.
May the joy of this day illumine the efforts of the Colombian people so that, inspired by hope, they may continue their commitment to working for the desired peace.
Regardless of your faith, or lack of faith, I think these are all things we can get behind. Why is it so hard to let there be peace on earth?
Merry Christmas, y’all. My wish for all of you is to have a peace in your life, and a very happy, healthy 2017.
Here is my gift to you. It’s the entire Jordan Smith Christmas Album! XO Even the WLS can listen!
Come for the tea. Stay for the shade. Not for the easily offended. You're a special snowflake just like everyone else.
Comments
SLMsays
I wish peace, love, happiness and amazing things for everyone in 2017. It’s almost 2 am and SANTA just finished getting everything done….which means my husband and I may get about 4 hours of sleep before our whole bunch of kids go thundering down the stairs for Christmas morning. There’s no place I’d rather be than home with them and my husband. I wish blessings for everyone!
I kind of prefer it alone. But I’m glad I could share with you. Agnostics love it all. Or at least this one does. Check out the Jordan Smith CD you will love it.
Thanks T. I was raised Catholic and never cared to hear from the Pope though I was forced to many times. I thought about it for like 10 seconds and then said “nah”. Thanks for sharing with us and I wish you nothing but the best that life has to offer you, this year, in 2017 and beyond!!
When did I say I didn’t like Pope Francis? And what’s this about hatred??? Don’t know where you got that from either. I just love it when non-Catholics (or others) put words in my mouth.
Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing, TT. His words serve as a great reminder of how so much work needs to be done in our collective hearts. As a lifelong catholic I’ve never seen anything like Pope Francis’s affect on the world. As far as Popes go, he is something special.
Thank you for the words of the Pope. It is beautiful. Thank you for the voice of Jordan Smith. It is inspiring. Good tidings of great joy! Have a blessed Christmas Tamara. Give Banjo a gentle rub down his back .
I can’t explain how nice it is to have a fellow Libyan expat here, I’m so tired of explaining why traveling is just ingrained in me to people who don’t get it. xo.
Wow…..there always has to be one (or two) people that have to just shit all over something nice. Thank you Dee for sharing your ability to come in to a “room” and fuck it up for everyone!!
You might want to listen to a nice Youtube recording of the pope calling one of his friends, a nun, to wish her a happy new year. The nuns didn’t answer the phone. The pope says something to the effect of “What are the nuns doing on New Year’s Eve that they can’t take my call?” Cute. 🙂
I wish peace, love, happiness and amazing things for everyone in 2017. It’s almost 2 am and SANTA just finished getting everything done….which means my husband and I may get about 4 hours of sleep before our whole bunch of kids go thundering down the stairs for Christmas morning. There’s no place I’d rather be than home with them and my husband. I wish blessings for everyone!
Best post of 2016 ; thanks for sharing. xo your spirit animal Marc
xoxo
Thank you the lovely gift. Urbi et Orbi is something I’m use to receiving while watching alone and you shared it with us. Pax.
I kind of prefer it alone. But I’m glad I could share with you. Agnostics love it all. Or at least this one does. Check out the Jordan Smith CD you will love it.
Yes I do. You have such nice taste in the finer things in life.
Merry Christmas, TT! I wish the same for you and everyone else.
I was raised Catholic and, to me, no other religion compares. I love Pope Francis..he always has just the right words.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Thanks T. I was raised Catholic and never cared to hear from the Pope though I was forced to many times. I thought about it for like 10 seconds and then said “nah”. Thanks for sharing with us and I wish you nothing but the best that life has to offer you, this year, in 2017 and beyond!!
And the same to everyone else, of course!
Proving that there will always be hatred….
You can’t even enjoy Pope Francis without someone wanting to announce they don’t like him,
When did I say I didn’t like Pope Francis? And what’s this about hatred??? Don’t know where you got that from either. I just love it when non-Catholics (or others) put words in my mouth.
Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing, TT. His words serve as a great reminder of how so much work needs to be done in our collective hearts. As a lifelong catholic I’ve never seen anything like Pope Francis’s affect on the world. As far as Popes go, he is something special.
Merry Christmas to you and Banjo. Blessings and peace. Xoxoxo
Thank you for the words of the Pope. It is beautiful. Thank you for the voice of Jordan Smith. It is inspiring. Good tidings of great joy! Have a blessed Christmas Tamara. Give Banjo a gentle rub down his back .
Very nice post.
Merry Christmas to TT, Banjo, and all.
I will continue to pray for peace, especially for the situations I cannot understand.
So true. Blessings to all!
It would be nice of all those hopes and dreams would become our truth.
Thank you so much for the post and the lovely gift, Tamara. You, the blog, and the commenters here are truly gifts all through the year.
I wish you all peace, joy, health, and happiness in the new year!
I can’t explain how nice it is to have a fellow Libyan expat here, I’m so tired of explaining why traveling is just ingrained in me to people who don’t get it. xo.
This is a gift I can enjoy over and over. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Can’t stop listening to O Holy Night, Might be the best song ever.
It is beautiful!
The Pope might want to be careful where he plants that kiss. You know, with the whole child sex abuse issue.
Wow…..there always has to be one (or two) people that have to just shit all over something nice. Thank you Dee for sharing your ability to come in to a “room” and fuck it up for everyone!!
You’re welcome!
My immediate thought was that Tamara posted this particular picture to be funny and proactive. That wasn’t the case? 🤔
You might want to listen to a nice Youtube recording of the pope calling one of his friends, a nun, to wish her a happy new year. The nuns didn’t answer the phone. The pope says something to the effect of “What are the nuns doing on New Year’s Eve that they can’t take my call?” Cute. 🙂