On St. Stephen’s Day, Pope Francis called on the faithful in St. Peter’s Square to pray for “peace for the war-tormented peoples, for peace for dear and tormented Ukraine.” The pope took note of the Ukrainian flags waved by the pilgrims. He also renewed his desire for peace in families, parishes, religious communities, movements and associations during the Angelus prayer. Meanwhile, more and more Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on December 25 and not on January 7 as usual – to distinguish themselves from Russia (see video above).
Francis called on Christians to bear witness to their faith as faithfully as Saint Stephen. The first Christian martyr is an example of the willingness to forgive brothers. He forgave his tormentors.
Pope: Christmas is the celebration of the coming of the Savior
The pope also commemorated the “numerous” martyrs who “risked their lives to bear witness to the faith”. Francis emphasized that “Christmas is not the fairy tale of the birth of a king, but the coming of the Redeemer, who frees us from evil by taking upon himself our evil: selfishness, sin, death”. Also “in our time there are countless martyrs, more than in the early days. Today we pray for these martyred and persecuted brothers and sisters.”
At Christmas, the 86-year-old pope received many congratulations. He publicly thanked him for this on Stefani Day. “I have received many congratulations in the past few days. Since I cannot respond to every individual, today I express my sincere thanks to everyone, especially for the gift of your prayers,” said the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope: End senseless war immediately
The pope emphasized the importance of peace in his message of blessing Urbi et Orbi on Christmas Day. The pope remembered “our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who live this Christmas in the dark, in the cold or far from their homes – because of the destruction caused by ten months of war”. “The Lord enlightens the minds of those who have the power to silence arms and put an immediate end to this senseless war,” Pope Francis said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
