Pope Francis said in a speech on Friday delivered to individuals who organized and performed in a Vatican Christmas concert that migrants and refugees were on the move in the world today to “escape wars, miseries caused by social injustices and climate change.”
Pope Speech
Dear friends,
We are preparing for the celebration of Christmas. The event of the birth of Jesus, two thousand years ago, occurs in a precise cultural context. Today, Christmas is celebrated in all parts of the world and is manifested according to the most diverse customs and traditions, generating multiple representations, to which you artists contribute with your talents and your passion.
Christmas is always new, as it invites us to be reborn in faith, to open ourselves to hope, to rekindle charity. This year, in particular, it calls us to reflect on the situation of many men, women and children of our time - migrants, refugees and refugees – on the move to escape wars, miseries caused by social injustices and climate change. To leave everything – home, relatives, homeland – and face the unknown, one must have suffered a very difficult situation.
Jesus too came “from another place.” He dwelt in God the Father, with the Holy Spirit, in a communion of wisdom, light and love, which He wanted to bring us with His coming into the world. He came to dwell among us, in the midst of our limits and our sins, to give us the love of the Most Holy Trinity. And as a man He showed us the “way” of love: namely, service, with humility, to give life.
When Herod’s violent rage struck the territory of Bethlehem, the Holy Family of Nazareth experienced the anguish of persecution and, guided by God, took refuge in Egypt. The little Jesus reminds us that half the refugees in the world today are children, innocent victims of human injustice.
The Church responds to these dramas with many initiatives of solidarity and assistance, hospitality and welcome. There is always much to do, there are so many suffering to soothe and problems to be solved. We need greater coordination, more organized actions, able to embrace every person, group and community, according to the plan of fraternity that unites us all. This is why it is necessary to network.
Creating networks of education, first of all, to educate the little ones among migrants, that is, those who instead of sitting among the school desks, like many of their peers, spend their days making long journeys on foot, or on makeshift and dangerous vehicles. They too need training to be able to work tomorrow and to participate as citizens, aware of the common good. And at the same time it is a question of educating us all in acceptance and solidarity, to prevent migrants and refugees from encountering indifference or, worse, intolerance, on their path.
Creating networks of education means allowing people to get up on their feet, to get back on their feet with full dignity, with the strength and courage to face life, making the most of their talents and their hard work.
Creating networks of education is a valid solution for opening the gates of refugee camps, to allow young migrants to enter new societies, encountering and in turn promoting solidarity and generosity.
I thank the Missioni Don Bosco project in Uganda and that of Scholas Occurrentes in Iraq, because they have collected this call to “network with education”, cooperating in the transmission of the message of hope for Christmas.”
It is said the whole world will “wonder after the Beast.” The aforementioned rhetoric is bringing the world’s leftists to adore him. How will he capture the attention of the rest of the world? We will soon see.
“And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue * for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (Revelation 13:3-6).
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