«Mothers always care about their children. Today, on this first day of the year, dedicated to peace, let us think of all the mothers who rejoice in their hearts, and of all the mothers who have hearts full of pain, because their children have been taken away by violence, by pride , from hatred. How beautiful is peace, which brightens the lives of peoples! How inhumane is war, which breaks mothers’ hearts!».
The theme of peace is at the center ofAngelus of Pope Francisthe first of the new year, on the day on which the Church celebrates the solemnity of Mary Most Holy Mother of God and the 58th World Day of Peace that Paul VI wanted to set on this day. «War always destroys everything, war is always a defeat», Francis says from the window of the study of the Apostolic Palace, recalling the meaning of today’s Day in the context of the Holy Year: «Pope Saint Paul VI wanted the first day of year would become World Peace Day. This year it is characterized, due to the Jubilee, by a particular theme, that of debt forgiveness. The first to forgive debts is God, as we always ask Him by praying the Our Father, referring to our sins and committing ourselves to in turn forgiving those who have offended us.”
The Jubilee, he continued, «chseeks to translate this forgiveness on a social level, so that no person, no family, no people is crushed by debt. I therefore encourage the governments of countries with a Christian tradition to set a good example by canceling or reducing the debts of the poorest countries as much as possible.”
Then the wish for 2025: «To all of you, Romans, pilgrims and to those who follow through the media I wish you all the best in the new year», said the Pontiff, «I thank the President of the Italian Republic for the memory in his message to the Italian nation and I heartily reciprocate assuring you of my prayers. Happy New Year Mr. President!».
Before the Marian prayer, the Pontiff focused on the meaning of today’s Gospel: «The surprise and joy of Christmas continue in the Gospel of today’s liturgy which narrates the arrival of the shepherds at the Bethlehem cave. After the angels’ announcement, in fact, they “went without delay and found Mary and Joseph and the Child lying in the manger”. This meeting fills everyone with amazement, because the shepherds “reported what they had been told about the child”: the new born is the “savior, the Lord Christ. Rlet us reflect on what the shepherds saw in Bethlehem, that is, the baby Jesus, and also on what they did not see, that is, the heart of Mary, who kept and meditated on all these facts. First of all, the baby Jesus: this Hebrew name means “God saves”, and that is precisely what he will do. The Lord, in fact, came into the world to give us his very life.”
The Pope invited us to think about this: «All men are children, but none of us chose to be born. God instead chose to be born for us: Jesus is the revelation of his eternal and infinite love, which brings peace to the world. The heart of Mary, the Virgin Mother, corresponds to the newborn Messiah, who manifests the mercy of the Father. This heart is the ear that heard the announcement of the archangel Gabriel; this heart is the bride’s hand given to Joseph; this heart is the embrace that enveloped Elizabeth in her old age. In the heart of Mary beats the hope of redemption for every creature.”
The Pope concluded by inviting the faithful to ask themselves: «Do I know how to remain silent and contemplate the birth of Jesus? And do I try to keep this Event, its message of goodness and salvation, in my heart? And how can I reciprocate such a great gift with a free gesture of peace, forgiveness, reconciliation? May Mary, the Holy Mother of God, teach us to keep in our hearts and bear witness to the joy of the Gospel in the world.”
