Catholic World News News Feature

Pope Benedict's Christmas messages December 29, 2008

In a memorable homily delivered at the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, Pope Benedict XVI said that the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem forces everyone-- even angels-- to see God in an entirely new light.

The angels, the Holy Father said, "had known God in the grandeur of the universe, in the reason and the beauty of the cosmos." But now they saw God in the form of a poor, humble child-- "something that astounded them."

That the Almighty would condescend to become a man was, and remains, shocking, the Pope said. With the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, "God's stooping down became real in a way previously inconceivable." Yet with this shock comes a recognition of the enormity of God's love for his creatures. "How, indeed, could his love for humanity-- his solicitude for us-- have appeared greater and more pure?"

Citing the medieval theologian William of St. Thierry, the Pope said that Christ's appearance in the form of a little child radically changes the way mankind sees God. "Now this God who has become a child says to us: You can no longer fear me, you can only love me."

"Every child asks for our love," the Pope continued, saying that the feast of the Nativity should inspire Christians to care for every child on earth. He mentioned the children who suffer from poverty, violence, exploitation and abuse, and said that we are all called to "do everything in our power to put an end to the suffering of these children." Pope Benedict concluded his homily with a reference to the city of Bethlehem itself, and a prayer "that hatred and violence will cease."

On Christmas Day, the Holy Father appeared at midday at the loggia of St. Peter's basilica to deliver his traditional Urbi et Orbi message. Repeating a theme from the previous night's homily, he said: "Every Christmas crèche is a simple yet eloquent invitation to open our hearts and minds to the mystery of life."

Again the Pontiff prayed for peace in Bethlehem, and for the Holy Land in general, noting that "the horizon seems once again bleak" there. He went on to pray for peace in "Lebanon, Iraq, and the whole Middle East." Turning to Africa, he asked the blessings of peace for Zimbabwe, the Congo, Kivu, Darfur, Sudan, and Somalia. The Pope prayed:

Wherever the dignity and rights of the human person are trampled upon; wherever the selfishness of individuals and groups prevails over the common good; wherever fratricidal hatred and the exploitation of man by man risk being taken for granted; wherever internecine conflicts divide ethnic and social groups and disrupt peaceful coexistence; wherever terrorism continues to strike; wherever the basics needed for survival are lacking; wherever an increasingly uncertain future is regarded with apprehension, even in affluent nations: in each of these places may the Light of Christmas shine forth and encourage all people to do their part in a spirit of authentic solidarity.

On December 26, the feast of St. Stephen, the Pope appeared again at midday to address the crowdin St. Peter's Square. He remarked that St. Stephen illustrates the "first fruits" of Christ's victory, because his martyrdom shows "the victory of life over death, of love over hate, of the light of truth over the darkness of deception."

The Pope issued a plea for all those who are suffering for Christ today. He mentioned in particular two Italian religious, Maria Teresa Olivero and Caterina Giraudo, who are hostages in northern Kenya, and he asked for prayers for all the hostages worldwide.

Then on Sunday, December 28, the Pope called attention to the feast of the Holy Family. Speaking once again from the window of his apartment in the apostolic palace, the Pontiff said that the family in Nazareth is a perfect "model of conjugal love," to be emulated by all Christian families. The Pope-- who sent his greetings to those participating in a massive pro-family rally in Madrid that same day-- exhorted all families: "do not let love, openness to life, and the incomparable bonds that unite your home be corrupted."