Jesus Is Hope for World in Crisis, Says Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican City: December 25, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

For a world in financial andmoral crisis, the Baby Jesus is a light in the darkness, Benedict XVI isaffirming.The Pope stated this today in his traditional Christmas message,which he delivered today at noon from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

"The light of that first Christmas was like a fire kindled in the night,"he said. "All about there was darkness, while in the cave there shone thetrue light."

"God loves to light little lights, so as then to illuminate vast spaces,"the Pontiff affirmed.

This is the history of the Church, he said, which began its journey "inthe lowly cave of Bethlehem, and down the centuries it has become a peopleand a source of light for humanity."

"Today too," the Holy Father affirmed, "in those who encounter that Child,God still kindles fires in the night of the world, calling men and womeneverywhere to acknowledge in Jesus the 'sign' of his saving and liberatingpresence and to extend the 'us' of those who believe in Christ to the wholeof mankind."

"Wherever there is an 'us' that welcomes God's love, there the light ofChrist shines forth, even in the most difficult situations," he added.

"The Church does not fear," Benedict XVI said, "for that Child is itsstrength."

He continued: "But she does not keep him for herself: She offers him toall those who seek him with a sincere heart, to the earth's lowly andafflicted, to the victims of violence, and to all who yearn for peace.

"Today too, on behalf of a human family profoundly affected by a gravefinancial crisis, yet even more by a moral crisis, and by the painfulwounds of wars and conflicts, the Church, in faithful solidarity withmankind, repeats with the shepherds: 'Let us go to Bethlehem,' for there weshall find our hope."

News source: www.zenit.org