The Pope’s Message on New Year’s Day
On the first day of the year, dedicated to peace, the Pope’s thoughts during the Angelus are with all mothers, especially those whose hearts are filled with sorrow because their children have been taken away by violence, pride, and hatred. “How beautiful peace is!” exclaims the Bishop of Rome, inviting everyone to contemplate and safeguard the mystery of the Nativity and to freely offer gestures of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Antonella Palermo – Vatican City
During his catechesis from the Apostolic Palace on the first day of the new year, traditionally dedicated to peace, the Pope reflects on the baby Jesus, which means “God saves” in Hebrew, and the heart of his mother, Mary. He emphasizes the dual presence of God becoming flesh and the emotions held in reserve by his mother. The Pope’s thoughts during the Angelus are particularly directed towards all grieving mothers who have lost their children to violence, pride, and hatred.
Read the full text of the Angelus here.
Jesus brings peace
The Pope focuses on the gratuitousness of the Incarnation, an event that never ceases to amaze us:
“The Lord came into the world to give us his own life. Think about this: all men are children, but none of us chose to be born. God, however, chose to be born for us: Jesus is the revelation of His eternal and infinite love, bringing peace into the world.”
Mary’s heart beats with hope
Mary may be discreet, but the manifestations of what she meditates on in her heart are numerous, transformative, and evident:
“This heart is the ear that listened to the announcement of the Archangel Gabriel; this heart is the hand of a spouse given to Joseph; this heart is the embrace that enveloped Elizabeth in her old age. In Mary’s heart beats the hope of redemption and salvation for every creature.”
How beautiful peace is!
As usual, the Pope concludes with a series of questions that prompt us to meditate on our willingness to contemplate as Mary did. In the face of the mystery of the Nativity, he asks, “How can I reciprocate such a great gift with a free gesture of peace, forgiveness, reconciliation?” The Pope is convinced that each person “will find something to do. And this will be good.”
“Today, on this first day of the year dedicated to peace, let us think of all the mothers who rejoice in their hearts and all the mothers who are heartbroken because their children have been taken away by violence, pride, and hatred. How beautiful peace is and how inhumane war is, which breaks the hearts of mothers!”
