Pope In Christmas Appeal To World Leaders

Urges That They Show Wisdom, Courage When Facing Conflict; Voices Environmental Concerns

(CBS/AP)  Pope Benedict XVI issued a Christmas Day appeal Tuesday to political leaders around the globe to find the "wisdom and courage" to end bloody conflicts in Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Congo.

Benedict delivered his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" speech - Latin for "to the city and to the world" - from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, blessing thousands of people gathered in the square below under a brilliant winter sun.

Wearing gold-embroidered vestments and a bejeweled bishops' hat, or miter, Benedict urged the crowd to rejoice over the celebration of Christ's birth, which he said he hoped would bring consolation to all people "who live in the darkness of poverty, injustice and war."

He mentioned in particular those living in the "tortured regions" of Darfur, Somalia, northern Congo, the Eritrea-Ethiopia border, Iraq, Lebanon and the Holy Land, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Balkans.

"May the child Jesus bring relief to those who are suffering and may he bestow upon political leaders the wisdom and courage to seek and find humane, just and lasting solutions," he said.

Beyond those conflicts, Benedict said he was turning his thoughts this Christmas to victims of other injustices, citing women, children and the elderly, as well as refugees and victims of environmental disasters and religious and ethnic tensions.

He said he hoped Christmas would bring consolation to "those who are still denied their legitimate aspirations for a more secure existence, for health, education, stable employment, for fuller participation in civil and political responsibilities, free from oppression and protected from conditions that offend human dignity."

Such injustices and discrimination are destroying the internal fabric of many countries and souring international relations, he said.

In a nod to his engagement with environmental concerns, the pontiff also noted that the number of migrants and displaced people was increasing around the globe because of "frequent natural disasters, often caused by environmental upheavals."

The pontiff delivered his message just hours after ushering in Christmas by celebrating Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

Benedict followed his speech with his traditional Christmas Day greetings - this year delivered in 63 different languages, including Mongolian, Finnish, Arabic, Hebrew, Swahili, Burmese, and in a new entry for 2007, Guarani, a South American Indian language.

As he finished, the bells of St. Peter's tolled and the Vatican's brightly outfitted Swiss Guards stood at attention as a band played and a crowd numbering in the tens of thousands waved national flags and cheered.

Earlier, during the Midnight Mass, the pope urged the faithful to set aside time in their lives for God and the needy.

Echoing a theme he has raised about an increasingly secular world, Benedict said that many people act as if there is no room for spiritual matters in their lives.

"Man is so preoccupied with himself, he has such urgent need of all the space and all the time for his own things, that nothing remains for others, for his neighbor, for the poor, for God," he said.

Benedict also use the homily to link the Christmas message to the church's growing environmental concerns, referring to early theologians who interpreted Christ's role as also a healer of the Earth and universe.

"He came to restore beauty and dignity to creation, to the universe: This is what began at Christmas and makes the angels rejoice. The Earth is restored to good order by virtue of the fact that it is opened up to God ... Thus Christmas is a feast of restored creation."

Under Benedict, the Vatican has been taking steps toward greater environmental action, a key element of which has been its involvement in reforestation project aimed at offsetting its carbon emissions.

In the homily, delivered in Italian in front of thousands packing the basilica, Benedict asked the faithful to make room for God, as well as the less fortunate, in their lives.

"Do we have time for our neighbor who is in need of a word from us, from me, or in need of my affection? For the sufferer who is in need of help? For the fugitive or the refugee who is seeking asylum? Do we have time and space for God?"

Benedict drew parallels between what he perceives as modern society's refusal of God and the story of how Jesus was born in a manger because there was no space for his family at a nearby inn.

"In some way, mankind is awaiting God, waiting for him to draw near. But when the moment comes, there is no room for him," he said.

But the message of Jesus' birth, which is marked on Christmas, is also that "God does not allow himself to be shut out," Benedict said. "He finds a space, even if it means entering through the stable; there are people who see his light and pass it on."

Earlier, as Midnight Mass began, Benedict blessed the crowd of pilgrims, Romans and tourists, as he walked in a procession up the main aisle to the central altar, which was decorated with red poinsettia flowers.

As a choir sang, Benedict sprinkled incense on the altar under Bernini's massive bronze baldachin before opening the service with the traditional wish for peace in Latin: "Pax vobis" ("Peace be with you"). The faithful responded: "Et cum spiritu tuo." ("And also with you.")

Four children, some in native costume from their countries, brought flowers to the altar, placing them near a statue depicting baby Jesus as Benedict, dressed in white and gold-colored robes, joined a choir in a hymn.

For those unable to get into the midnight service there were giant screens set up in St. Peter's Square, which was made festive with a twinkling Christmas tree and the Vatican's Nativity scene.

Officials unveiled the life-size Nativity on Monday, revealing the statues of Mary and Joseph, Jesus' parents, in a huge house-like structure located next to the Vatican's giant, twinkling Christmas tree.

This year, the scene of Jesus' birth was depicted in a recreation of Joseph's Nazareth home rather than the traditional manger in Bethlehem. Officials at the unveiling said the shift underscored the idea that Jesus was born not just in a single place, but everywhere and for everyone.

Hours before Midnight Mass, Benedict briefly appeared at his studio window to light a candle as a symbol of peace, blessing the crowd with the light before leaving it on the sill.

[secundus2]

I thought it was interesting that his sermon included references to the works of Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa and other church fathers and doctors. He still likes being the scholar/professor.

[iceman_1960]

"He sees you when you"re sleeping,
He knows when you"re awake."


Doesn"t Santa Claus need a court order before he can conduct close surveillance like that ?

[j-whitman]

I expected to see all the Bush Loving Pope Basheres here complaining how un-republican it is to give a damm about the poor. --- The day after Christmas, they will be back to their usual American & other religion hating selves.

[rohink-2009]

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

[iceman_1960]

"Pope Urges Time For God, The Poor"

If there really were an all powerful, benevolent God, we wouldn"t have hundreds of millions of poor people suffering in the world.

Would we....


"The Riddle of Epicurus

(Earliest known statement of the Problem of Evil)

"If God is willing to prevent evil, but is not able to
Then He is not omnipotent.

If He is able, but not willing
Then He is malevolent.

If He is both able and willing
Then whence cometh evil?

If He is neither able nor willing
Then why call Him God?"

[ontheleft]

''Doesn"t Santa Claus need a court order before he can conduct close surveillance like that ?''

No, actually Bush came up with the idea to have Santa Claus gather intelligence on suspected terrorists. It''s one of the conditions Bush placed on him for using U.S. airspace. You can find the details on page 1578 of the Patriot Act.

[j-whitman]

rohink,,,, I think you would get an argument about that from the actual father of Jesus,,, You''d probably get an argument from God as well since he told you not to turn a man into a God -- Merry Christmas back at you

[nothappyatall]

Who gives a rats azz what this right wing idiot says, make time for YOURSELF and don''t worry about an invisible man in the sky, he will fade away like Zeus, Appolo, Mercury, the sun god and all the rest of the imaginary entities.

[nothappyatall]

"They came as a result of mans disobedience to God, beginning back in the Garden of Eden."

Oh right, real logic there- blame and punish EVERY person and animal ever born since Adam, sort of like your kid steals something so the cops arrest you, your husband or wife, your two sets of parents, your dog, cat, goldfish, your next door neighbor, the teacher and so on.

"He suffered and died on the cross, having taken upon Himself the sin of the world "

LOL, the concept of ''sin'' propagated by this god, who knowingly sends his own son down knowing he would be tortured and executed in order that his own unhappiness with this so called ''sin'' thing will somehow be ''forgiven'', yeah makes real sense there.... to someone in a mental hospital suffering from delusions maybe.

"or by natural disasters in a physical world which is also affected by mans sin "

Right, so we caused the earthquakes and tsunamis that killed over 100,000 men women and children along with untold thousands of animals a few years ago, and somehow we are supposed to associate THAT as some kind of twisted ''punishment''
See what it is, is this god character its clear just loves toying with us for kicks, thats the only explanation.

[ralphj53]

December 25, 2007
To: Iceman_1960

There IS a TIME when this world will come to grips with EVIL. When the world COMES to an end. It is not for GOD to prevent EVIL. Evil did come about because of the sin of ADAM and EVE in the GARDEN. And NOT because of GOD.

GOD did NOT create EVIL. EVIL will ALWAYS exist through the end of time... again because of the sin of ADAM and EVE.

Amd so, HE sent HIS only beloved SON, JESUS to suffer and die for our sins, so that REDEMPTION will be ours to behold. It is NOT for GOD to prevent EVIL. After all, HE did NOT commit that ORIGINAL SIN. It is MAN who commited this sin.

CHRIST came unto this world, to SUFFER and DIE, so that MAN can reconcile himself to GOD. Example.... During world war two.. EVIL reared it''s ugly head in the form of HITLER,MUSSOLINI and THE Japanese Empire.

And so, DID they WIN? Of course not. If they had WON, then you can say that GOD was NOT able to prevent EVIL. "If God is willing to prevent EVIL, but is not able to, then HE is not omnipotent" as you said... But HE did prevent EVIL through JUSTICE at the TRIALS at Nuremberg in Germany in 1946.

rjm

[pqqamazon]

All "Popes" should be as practical as this one. I am glad he was chosen and as far as Popes go, I believe he is doing a fine work. Now if people would listen to some of the things he is saying, the world would be a better place to live. We still cannot expect everything in the world to go well for us but there would be a lot less misery and death. May God bless everyone with His word on this Christmas day!

[vet_sk]

Amazing that we now look at the catholic church as at least somewhat progressive. They endorse evolution, and John Paul II even had a study done in the mid 80''s to find who wrote the bible - their gender, what region they were from, and even their goals in the passages they wrote.

I think all church is rediculous but at least the catholics don''t hate science as the fundamentals do. Fundamentals are just plain scary. Heck, huge amounts of them are even still supporting Bush - the war criminal.

You have people writing here like ralphj53, who can''t believe that people can be good just because with the devil and god being involved. Is their perhaps a character flaw with those who must believe in superstitious good and evil to explain societies character?

[motherhen11]

Pope me!

[abdoul_pasha]

Merry Christmas! God bless you and your children.

[formrusmcsgt]

"Echoing a theme he has raised about an increasingly secular world, Benedict said that many people act as if there is no room for spiritual matters in their lives."

I assume he''s referring to those of us who stopped believeing in fairy tales as children.

[gkc99]

In a gesture of goodwill, the Pope also announced today that the Vatican would be returning billions of dollars worth of stolen art treasures owned by Jews killed in the Holocaust to their heirs in Israel and the US.

The Pope also announced that the Vatican would provide reparations to the worlds'' Muslims and Jews for the Christian slaughter of all the inhabitants of Jerusalem during the Crusades, in part because Saleh al Din did NOT likewise slaughter all the Christians a few years later.

The Pope announced that the Christian practice of forcible conversions, theft of children from parents, and suppression of the belief systems of Native peoples would be compensated in New World and other Native communities.

The Pope stated "it is time for Christians to actually follow some of the teachings of Jesus, which have been ignored for the last 2000 years as the Christian Church has been used as a tool of oppression by the fascist power structure."

[tbweb]

Pope Benedict XVI should set up a YouTube channel like Queen Elizabeth II and get his messages out that way. Pope Benedict XVI should have permanent messages on YouTube anyway since that capability is available and he can reach a wider audience, maybe even a Video is different languages like John Paul II could have made. Many are uncomfortable with the Pope''s Nazi past, it would be good to have a video segment on YouTube explaining how he got caught up in the Nazi movement and overcame it. Many are also disillusioned by the Catholic Churches recent child abuse s.e.x. scandals and the media saturation covering it, the Pope should also address this as well. The Christmas and New Years Season is always nice, but in the West its too commercial, all about making money and putting businesses in the "black" and seems to have little to do with celebrating Christ in a "true sense" the way its intended. Seasons Greetings just the same.

[facts6]

Theatre. Down to the costumes and set and anticapitalism script.

[cfin5]

No thanks. I''ll believe what God''s Word says, not what somebody in a "Captain Religion" costume says God''s Word says.

[coolntn]

Anyone else besides me think half the pics of the Pope make him appear to look like Satan ? Arms flailed outward...like "you are under my power".

[soldat44]

Anyone else besides me think half the pics of the Pope make him appear to look like Satan ? Arms flailed outward...like "you are under my power".

Posted by coolntn at 09:50 AM : Dec 25, 2007

Only you.

[soldat44]

Theatre. Down to the costumes and set and anticapitalism script.

Posted by facts6 at 09:08 AM : Dec 25, 2007

I used to think that also....''Used to''.

Peace be with you.

[soldat44]

"Echoing a theme he has raised about an increasingly secular world, Benedict said that many people act as if there is no room for spiritual matters in their lives."

I assume he''''s referring to those of us who stopped believeing in fairy tales as children.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:14 AM : Dec 25, 2007

Peace be with you during this Season of Hope.

[cfin5]

No thanks. I''''''''ll believe what God''''''''s Word says, not what somebody in a "Captain Religion" costume says God''''''''s Word says.
Posted by cfin5

-Ditto! A very Merry Christmas to you cfin5!

Luke 2:10-11

Posted by singinrick at 10:12 AM : Dec 25, 2007----------------Thanks dude. Revelation Chapter 17.....especially verse 18

[annia1233]

Thanking this religious figure representative his good request. But he should try to come p in front of the world with a little less gold and richness on his attire. Today I say here that all religion should be vanished fron the planet since have brought to humans nothing but pain and sorrow. Religion is more a surce of guilt, violence, and terrible actions perform by people interpreting such doctrines wrong. From Judaism to the last scientologist, all religions and sects should be vanished. All the pope''s rishness should be given to the poor and in that way, the pope will be emulating Jesus christ. This man with all his gold and richness IS NOT a representative of Jesus Christ or the christian God; he is a representative of all that is it wrong with religion in our planet.

[cfin5]

Luke 2:12 means that they wrapped the Son of God at his birth in the garments of death (swaddling clothes) showing his reason for coming here which he followed through with.

[soldat44]

Thanking this religious figure representative his good request. But he should try to come p in front of the world with a little less gold and richness on his attire. Today I say here that all religion should be vanished fron the planet since have brought to humans nothing but pain and sorrow. Religion is more a surce of guilt, violence, and terrible actions perform by people interpreting such doctrines wrong. From Judaism to the last scientologist, all religions and sects should be vanished. All the pope''''s rishness should be given to the poor and in that way, the pope will be emulating Jesus christ. This man with all his gold and richness IS NOT a representative of Jesus Christ or the christian God; he is a representative of all that is it wrong with religion in our planet.

Posted by annia1233 at 10:18 AM : Dec 25, 2007

Why do you care who is a representative of our Lord Jesus Christ? You want all religion banished.

If there is No Faith there is No Hope. No reason to justify your existence. Why are you here?

Peace be with you.

[soldat44]

"In this connection, when it comes to the search for truth, whoever trusts only in his own individual efforts and does not recognize the need for help from others, is deceiving himself. Human beings %u201Cfrom birth, therefore, are immersed in traditions which give them not only a language and a cultural formation but also a range of truths in which they believe almost instinctively%u2026 Nonetheless, there are in the life of a human being many more truths which are simply believed than truths which are acquired by way of personal verification%u201D.[11] The need to trust in the knowledge handed on by one%u2019s culture or acquired by others, enriches a person with truths that could not have been attained on one%u2019s own, as well as by the interpersonal and social relationships which this process develops. Spiritual individualism, on the other hand, isolates a person, hindering him from opening in trust to others %u2013 so as both to receive and to bestow the abundant goods which nourish his freedom %u2013 and jeopardizes the right to manifest one%u2019s own convictions and opinions in society.
From the "CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

DOCTRINAL NOTE
ON SOME ASPECTS OF EVANGELIZATION"

[cpaide]

"Luke 2:12 means that they wrapped the Son of God at his birth in the garments of death (swaddling clothes) showing his reason for coming here which he followed through with."

Posted by cfin5

wow! brother papa has got himself some very fine swaddling clothes with gold and all. sweet. but jesus told me they never wrapped him in any of that. just some cloths and such plain and simple and not for show: kinda like the magical morman underpants i guess.

[fibonacci_]

Merry Christmas.

[bozworth4]

Invoking the name of god to control the masses has no effect on the leaders because most (as King George II) feel they are the gods and are therefore far above the masses!!

Keep going pray and send money!!

[jon2012-2009]

For hundreds of years, people have tried to prove the existence or nonexistence of an empirical God. The nonexistence side of the argument is impossible to prove. Only the existence is provable--but today no one has put forward evidence that proves existence. The bible contains much that in legal parlance is called "hearsay" and the creation scenario is not holding up to the scrutiny of science.

[jon2012-2009]

"The Riddle of Epicurus

(Earliest known statement of the Problem of Evil)

"If God is willing to prevent evil, but is not able to
Then He is not omnipotent.

If He is able, but not willing
Then He is malevolent.

If He is both able and willing
Then whence cometh evil?

If He is neither able nor willing
Then why call Him God?"

Posted by Iceman_1960 at 10:26 PM : Dec 24, 2007

Never heard of Epicurus until now. Let me weigh in with my two-cents worth. The Achilles heel here is the second statement: "If He is able, but not willing, then He is malevolent."

If this statement is true by definition, then "malevolent" is very narrowly defined--a definition you would not find in the dictionary. Also, "malevolent" in the wider sense it is understood is not the only possible inference.

How about mysterious, perhaps even wise? A mysterious God does not reveal its logic. A wise God considers the bigger picture of man having to evolve adaptation to survive both in the natural environment and in competition with other members of his species.

In a deductive sequence, when one step breaks down, the entire argument collapses. So the riddle falls apart at that point.

(cont)

[flagship-usa]

Vestments: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05400a.htm
Cain and Abel: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03142b.htm

The Catholic Church is much more than beholden to Treasures. These articles of wealth are mans rich history. The Catholic Church has preserved over time, mans Great achievements. Adornments to mans past. A repository of our selves. We can not just give this stuff away to the highest bidder! The Catholic Church is in great favor, by protecting this rich and irreplaceable treasure(s) to mankind. Maintaining and preserving our history, is of considerable expense, The Catholic Church absorbs this cost. It would be of great lost, should anyone believe other wise. We are not just dealing with a Church/Religion, we are also dealing with an institution that understands the importance of these treasures. They have taken upon themselves to collect and preserve this great wealth unmatched by any museum. How many Churches work to preserve Religion and at the same time preserve mans past?

[piercetheval]

"For God so loved the world, that He gave it His only begotten Son..." John 3:16 KJV...and he tossed the rest of us in just for laughs. Study all the major religions of the world and you will find two common threads [and a third if you consider all anceint forms of Sun prayer] that "as you sow so shall re reap". And the Golden Rule "Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you". Peace on Earth Good Will Towards Man. Merry Christmas.

[cfin5]

jon2012,.....I say that the earliest statement regarding the problem of evil as it concerns us started with, "Yea, hath God said,......

[grammawhamma]

Part 1

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people''s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a " Holiday ".
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!


continued next post

[grammawhamma]

Part2

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe''s the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny''s and Sears
You won''t hear the word Christmas; it won''t touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break"
under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout

MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holiday !


(author unknown)

[chavico]

If the "religious leaders" would do more than talking about achieving "peace" in the world I would beleive in them. Practically all the conflicts in the world today are based on "religious beleifs". The "leaders" are not taking the principles of all these religions that supposedly are for PEACE and EQUALITY, DEMANDING that their followers do not participate in wars or conflicts and rather live the message of JESUS, ALAH, BUDDA, etc. etc. of peace and tolerance. All killings in these wars are done in the name of GOD. Peace will come when "wars" are not even the "last resort" to gain power but the POWER OF PEACE will not make it necessary to go to "war" to prevail in solving human conflicts.

[libsluvsuvs]

Posted by jmcgilvray at 12:32 PM : Dec 25, 2007
+ report abuse

*************

"its like a finger pointed towards the moon, DO NO FOCUS on the finger or you will loose all of that heavenly glory"

[fibonacci_]

iluvlibsluvssuvs

[libsluvsuvs]

Posted by fibonacci_ at 01:04 PM : Dec 25, 2007
+ report abuse

*******

merrrrrry christmas..

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by chavico at 12:54 PM : Dec 25, 2007

All religions are businesses. All dogmas dog other dogmas as being fake.

The Christians want the whole world to be only Christian.

The Muslims want the whole world to be only Muslim.

The Jews want the whole world to be only Jewish.

Etc., etc., etc.

The only way we will ever have peace is for the whole world to be just one religion, which will never happen, or for there to be no religion at all, which will never happen, either.

Expecting peace in conjunction with religion is like looking for gold in a silver mine.....

[formrusmcsgt]

formermcsgt, you just said it all.
Happy Festivus!!!

Posted by veteran71 at 01:47 PM : Dec 25, 2007

Thanks veteran71, and Happy Festivus to you as well...

[iceman_1960]

"How about mysterious, perhaps even wise? A mysterious God does not reveal its logic. A wise God considers the bigger picture of man having to evolve adaptation to survive both in the natural environment and in competition with other members of his species."
- Posted by jon2012 at 11:38 AM : Dec 25, 2007

We are a long way from the God of the Bible with this post. We"re actually paying a visit to Aristotle"s Unmoved Mover.

It is difficult for anyone who has been to the pediatric ward of a cancer hospital, as I have when I visited with the family of a very young girl dying of ovarian cancer, to feel any great enthusiasm for this cold blooded "Big Picture" approach.

It isn"t website design we"re talking about here. It"s real human beings who suffer and die for no good reason.

[formrusmcsgt]

It"s real human beings who suffer and die for no good reason.

Posted by Iceman_1960 at 01:49 PM : Dec 25, 2007

Ask any gullible on the planet ice, they''ll tell you "God" called them to heaven or some such drivel.....

[iceman_1960]

"Have a good look at the photo of the pope. He is the personification of everything Jesus DID NOT TEACH."
- Posted by jmcgilvray at 12:32 PM : Dec 25, 2007

You mean Jesus didn"t wear a hat like that ? I thought He did.

Jesus DID wear Holy Mormon Underwear, though. I was briefed on that by a reliable anonymous source at Mitt Romney campaign headquarters.

[poopusbuttus]

ALL OF YOU DUMMY''S GO GET A LIFE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON HERE!!!!!! IT''S CHRISTMAS!!!! GO SPEND TIME WITH THE FAMILY. JESUS!!!!! WHAT''S WRONG WITH YOU MORONS!!!!!

[iceman_1960]

"Thanks veteran71, and Happy Festivus to you as well..."
- Posted by formrusmcsgt at 01:49 PM : Dec 25, 2007

Which Deity is in charge of that Holiday ?

Whoever He is, I hope Michael Kramer isn"t His Prophet.

[iceman_1960]

RE: Post by poopusbuttus at 01:59 PM : Dec 25, 2007

Leave me alone.

Kwanza doesn"t start for another week.