杏MAP导航

By Joseph Tulloch

杏MAP导航 Francis has renewed his appeal for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine. 

Speaking after his recitation of the Angelus prayer for the Feast of St Stephen, the 杏MAP导航 addressed a sizeable crowd gathered in St Peter鈥檚 Square.

War and persecution

He said that on the Feast of St Stephen he is 鈥渃lose to the Christian communities that suffer discrimination.鈥�

鈥淚 urge them,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥渢o persevere in charity towards all, striving peacefully for justice and religious freedom.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 added that he also entrusted to St Stephen 鈥渢he invocation of peace by war-torn peoples.鈥�

鈥淭he media show us what war produces,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e witnessed Syria; now we see Gaza. We think of martyred Ukraine. A desert of death.鈥�

鈥淧eople desire peace,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 stressed. 鈥淟et us pray for peace. Let us strive for peace.鈥�

Wonder and worship

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to invite the faithful to visit the Nativity Scene set up in St. Peter鈥檚 Square.

鈥淎s you look at the statues,鈥� he said, 鈥測ou will see in their faces and attitudes a common trait: wonder. You will see a wonder that becomes worship.鈥�

鈥淗old on to this,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said: 鈥渨onder that becomes worship.鈥�

Christmas messages

杏MAP导航 Francis also took a moment to thank Christians around the world for the Christmas messages they had sent him.

鈥淚 take this opportunity to thank all those who have sent me messages of good wishes from Rome, and from so many parts of the world,鈥� he said.

鈥淭hank you, especially for your prayers! And keep praying for the 杏MAP导航! It鈥檚 needed!鈥�