Pope John Paul II used the traditional Christmas Eve midnight mass at the Vatican on Wednesday to reiterate a call for world peace, saying ”too much blood” continues to be shed in conflicts around the globe.
”Too much blood is still being shed on the earth! Too much violence and too many conflicts trouble the peaceful coexistence of nations!” the pope said in his homily during the ceremony, broadcast live to 48 countries.
John Paul II, who is 83 and weakened by Parkinson’s disease, concelebrated the traditional Christmas mass with about 30 cardinals. About 10 000 pilgrims from around the world packed into the basilica for the annual Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus.
”May the radiance of your birth light up the night of the world,” said the pope, facing the figure of the baby Jesus in the crib in St Peter’s Basilica.
”May the power of your message of love thwart the proud snares of the evil one. May the gift of your life make us understand ever more clearly the worth of the life of each human being.”
The pope said the birth of the Christ child brought a message of hope.
”In his simplicity, the Child of Bethlehem teaches us to rediscover the real meaning of our existence; he teaches us to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world.”
At midday on Thursday, the pope will give his traditional Christmas Day ”urbi et orbi” blessing, before referring in a brief message to his wish for peace in the Middle East and an end to terrorism, Vatican sources said.
For the first time in his 26 Christmases as pope and in a bid to cut down on his workload, the frail pontiff will not celebrate mass on the morning of December 25, which will be taken instead by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. — Sapa-AFP