Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours (Lk 2:14).
Maria Fischer
org. Christmas 2013. Francis’ Christmas – the shepherd’s Christmas, a Christmas to pray for peace. “Prince of Peace, in every place turn hearts aside from violence and inspire them to lay down arms and undertake the path of dialogue,” prayed Pope Francis in his Christmas message prior to the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, calling on everyone – Catholics, Christians of all denominations to pray and for non-believers to fervently desire pe1ace and a dignified and protected life for society’s most vulnerable people. He did not omit any region suffering from wars – Syria, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Israel, Palestine – from his litany of petitions for peace. He also mentioned the victims of today’s Christmas Day attack in Bagdad: the most serious against a church during the celebration of the Christmas Mass. A car bomb went off outside the Church of the Virgin Mary, killing 27 people and injuring another 56 according to police sources. Most of the injured were Christians. He also called for prayers for refugees, immigrants, exploited and kidnapped children, the elderly, the victims of natural disasters, culminating in his “typical Francis” plea: “We need that our hearts be moved.”
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