«War is always a defeat, always!». With these strong and heartfelt words, Pope Francis at the end of the Angelus invites us to pray for peace in countries torn apart by violence and conflicts: Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Myanmar and Sudan. An appeal to the international community to intervene firmly, protecting civilians and respecting humanitarian law. «Stop hitting schools, hospitals, workplaces!». A reminder to everyone’s conscience, because war is never a victory, but always a tragedy. Below is the full text of the Pope’s words.
Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!
And congratulations, you are brave, with the rain! Happy Sunday!
Today the Gospel (see John 1.1-18), speaking to us about Jesus, the Word made flesh, tells us that “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1.5). That is, it reminds us of how powerful the love of God is, which does not allow itself to be defeated by anything and which, beyond obstacles and rejections, continues to shine and illuminate our path.
We see it at Christmas, when the Son of God, made man, overcomes many walls and many divisions. He faces the closed mind and heart of the “greats” of his time, who were more concerned with defending power than seeking the Lord (see Mt 2,3-18). He shares the humble life of Mary and Joseph, who welcome him and grow with love, but with the limited possibilities and hardships of those who have no means: they were poor. He offers himself, fragile and defenseless, to meet the shepherds (see Luke 2,8-18), men with hearts marked by the harshness of life and contempt for society; and then with the Magi (see Mt 2,1), who, driven by the desire to know him, undertake a long journey and find him in a house of ordinary people, in great poverty.
Faced with these and many other challenges, which seem like contradictions, God never stops – let’s hear this well: God never stops -: he finds a thousand ways to reach each and every one of us, where we are, without calculations and without conditions, opening even in the darkest nights of humanity windows of light that darkness cannot cover (see Is 9.1-6). It is a reality that consoles us and gives us courage, especially in a time like ours, a time that is not easy, where there is so much need for light, hope and peace, a world where men sometimes create situations so complicated that it seems impossible to get out of them. It seems impossible to get out of many situations, but today the Word of God tells us that this is not the case! Indeed, he calls us to imitate the God of love, opening glimmers of light wherever we can, with whoever we meet, in every context: family, social, international. He invites us not to be afraid to take the first step. This is the Lord’s invitation today: let us not be afraid to take the first step: it takes courage to do so, but we are not afraid. Opening bright windows of closeness to those who suffer, of forgiveness, of compassion, Of reconciliation: these are the many first steps that we must take to make the path clearer, safer and more possible for everyone. And this invitation resonates in a particular way inJubilee year recently begun, urging us to be messengers of hope with simple but concrete “yes” to life, with choices that bring life. Let’s do it, everyone: this is the path to salvation!
And so, at the beginning of a new year, we can ask ourselves: how can I open a window of light in my environment and in my relationships? Where can I be a glimmer of light that lets God’s love through? What is the first step I should take today?
May Mary, star that guides us to Jesus, help us to be luminous witnesses of the Father’s love for all.
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After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters!
I greet all of you, faithful of Rome and pilgrims who have come from various countries.
I greet in particular the religious teachers of the Archdiocese of Zagreb. Dear ones, I wish you all the best for your work, which is very important for the cultural, spiritual and moral education of the new generations.
I greet the faithful of Orzinuovi, the families of Massa Lombarda, the altar servers and pastoral workers of Postioma and Porcellengo, the young people of the “Franciscan Fraternity of Bethany”, the children of Concesio, the birthplace of Saint Paul VI, and the children of Immaculate. I greet the group of teenagers from the deanery of Oggiono in the province of Lecco, on a pilgrimage for the Jubilee.
We continue to pray for peace, in Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Myanmar, Sudan. The international community must act firmly to ensure that humanitarian law is respected in conflicts. Stop hitting civilians, stop hitting schools, hospitals, stop hitting workplaces! Let’s not forget that war is always a defeat, always!
I wish everyone a good Sunday. And please don’t forget to pray for me. Have a nice lunch and see you tomorrow!
