AMERICA/VENEZUELA - Archbishop of Caracas says 'Christmas challenges us to be channels of God's peace, to overcome division, disputes, hatred and to avoid all violence'

Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Jorge L. Urosa Savino Archbishop of Caracas, has urged the people to live Christmas in a spirit of charity, putting aside hatred, rancour, selfishness and violence, in view of the situation in the country. In his Message for Advent, the Cardinal says "Christmas is a Christian religious feast which we must commemorate drawing spiritually closer to God and striving for spiritual renewal". It is also an opportunity "to deepen and strengthen our faith in Christ and our Catholic identity" and to "strengthen our hope". He appeals to the people to put aside hatred and to live Advent and Christmas as a time of charity.
The Cardinal told Venezuelan Catholics that: "Christmas challenges us to be channels of God's peace. A challenge to overcome divisions, disputes, hatred and to avoid violence at all cost. It is necessary to overcome division, political, social, economic, and to promote solidarity, fraternity and unity with all our countrymen and women".
At the end of the message the Cardinal calls the people to live Christmas as a family, receiving the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist, working to promote peace, offering and asking for forgiveness and being kind and generous with everyone, especially those most in need. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/12/2007; righe 17, parole 239)