杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

By being born in a humble manger, God launched the only true revolution of love and tenderness that gives hope and dignity to the disinherited and the outcast. 

杏MAP导航 Francis made the point to the organizers and artistes of the 27^th annual Christmas charity concert of the Vatican, promoted by the Vatican鈥檚 Congregation for Catholic Education and supported by the Don Bosco Valdocco Missions of the Salesians and the Pontifical Foundation Scholas Occurrentes.

Hunger and thirst within

The proceeds from the concert which will help in the protection of the Pan-Amazon region and its indigenous people through the charity project, 鈥淟et鈥檚 network for the Amazon鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 explained that Christmas is a time of expectation when we ask ourselves about our hearts' desire.  Through this inner thirst, he said, God Himself comes to meet us on the road where there is hunger and thirst for peace, justice, freedom and love. 

鈥淵ou too, with your songs, help awaken or reawaken this healthy human 鈥測earning鈥� in the hearts of many people,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 told the concert artistes. 

鈥淭he nativity scene clearly teaches that we cannot let ourselves be fooled by wealth and fleeting promises of happiness鈥︹�� the 杏MAP导航 said citing from his recent Apostolic Letter 鈥淎dmirabile Signum鈥�, on the meaning and importance of the Nativity scene. 

God鈥檚 revolution of love

鈥淏y being born in a manger, God himself launches the only true revolution that can give hope and dignity to the disinherited and the outcast: the revolution of love, the revolution of tenderness,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.

鈥淔rom the manger, Jesus proclaims, in a meek yet powerful way, the need for sharing with the poor as the path to a more human and fraternal world in which no one is excluded or marginalized.鈥�

By taking us aback with His humble birth, the 杏MAP导航 explained, God constantly invites us not to grow proud but to grasp His disarming power in every little gesture of goodwill.  

Global village of education

The 杏MAP导航 noted that artistes have a certain influence on young people鈥檚 ways of thinking and acting.  Beauty and truth that bring joy to man鈥檚 heart, he said, unite generations and makes them share in admiration.

鈥淔or this reason,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥渁ll of us are called to build a 鈥�global village of education鈥�, weaving a web of human relationships for these are the best antidote to all forms of discrimination, violence and bullying.鈥�  

In this village, he noted, education and art meet through the languages of music and poetry, painting and sculpture, theatre and cinema.  All these expressions of human creativity can be channels of fraternity and peace between the peoples that make up the human family, and of dialogue between the world鈥檚 religions.  

Among the numerous international singers and musicians from around the world performing at Saturday鈥檚 charity concert are Lionel Richie, Bonnie Tyler, Susan Boyle, Mirelle Mathieu, Leo Rojas and several Italian artistes.  Among the choirs will be the Charleston Mass Gospel Choir from the USA, the Italian Piccolo Coro Le Dolci Note and the Art Voice Academy.