Urbi et Orbi Christmas message from Pope Francis 2019
“The Father gave it to us with great mercy. He gave it to everyone. He gave it forever. The Son was born, like a small light flickering in the cold and darkness of the night. "
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"People who walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Is 9: 1)
Dear brothers and sisters, Merry Christmas!
From the womb of the Mother Church, the incarnate Son of God was born again tonight. His name is Jesus, which means: "God saves". The Father, eternal and infinite Love, sent him into the world not to condemn the world but to save it (cf. Jn 3:17). The Father gave it to us with great mercy. He gave it to everyone. He gave it forever. The Son was born, like a small light flickering in the cold and darkness of the night.
That Child, born of the Virgin Mary, is the Word of God made flesh. The Word that guided Abraham's heart and goes to the promised land and which continues to attract all those who trust in the promises of God. The Word that guided the Jews on the journey from slavery to freedom and which continues to call slaves in every age, including ours, to leave their prisons. It is the brightest Word of the sun, embodied in a tiny son of man: Jesus the light of the world.
That is why the prophet cries out: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Is 9: 1). There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is even greater. There is darkness in personal, family and social relationships, but the light of Christ is greater. There is darkness in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, but the light of Christ is even greater.
May Christ bring his light to the many children who suffer from wars and conflicts in the Middle East and in various countries of the world. May it bring comfort to the beloved Syrian people who have not yet seen an end to the hostilities that have leased their country in the past decade. May he mix the consciences of men and women of good will. May he inspire governments and the international community to find solutions to allow the peoples of that region to live together in peace and security and put an end to their suffering. May it support the Lebanese people and allow them to overcome the current crisis and to rediscover their vocation as a message of freedom and harmonious coexistence for all.
May the Lord Jesus bring light to the Holy Land, where he was born as the Savior of humanity, and where so many people - who struggle but are not discouraged - still await a moment of peace, security and prosperity. May it bring consolation to Iraq amid its current social tensions and to Yemen, which is suffering from a serious humanitarian crisis.
May the little Babe of Bethlehem bring hope to the whole American continent, where a number of nations are experiencing a period of political and social upheaval. May he encourage the beloved Venezuelan people, long tried by their political and social tensions, and make sure that they receive the help they need. May he bless the efforts of those who spare no effort to promote justice and reconciliation and to overcome the various crises and the many forms of poverty that offend the dignity of each person.
May the Redeemer of the world bring light to his beloved Ukraine, which wants concrete solutions for lasting peace.
May the newborn Lord bring light to the African people, where persistent social and political situations often force individuals to migrate, depriving them of a home and family. May he restore peace to those who live in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, torn by constant conflict. May it bring consolation to all those who suffer from violence, natural disasters or disease outbreaks. And it may bring comfort to those who are persecuted for their religious faith, in particular missionaries and members of the faithful who have been kidnapped, and to the victims of attacks by extremist groups, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.
May the Son of God descend to earth from heaven, protect and support all those who, because of these and other injustices, are forced to emigrate in the hope of a safe life. It is injustice that makes them cross deserts and seas that become cemeteries. It is injustice that forces them to guarantee unspeakable forms of abuse, slavery of all kinds and torture in inhuman detention camps. It is injustice that takes them away from the places where they could hope for a dignified life, but instead they find themselves in front of walls of indifference.
May Emmanuel bring light to all suffering members of our human family. May he soften our often stony and self-centered hearts and make them channels of his love. May she bring her smile, through our poor faces, to all the children of the world: to those who are abandoned and to those who suffer violence. With our fragile hands, may he dress those who have nothing to wear, give bread to the hungry and heal the sick. Through our friendship, as it is, it can approach the elderly and the lonely, migrants and marginalized. On this joyful Christmas day, may he bring his tenderness to all and illuminate the darkness of this world.