Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service ) – With a warm invitation to “rejoice in spirit” because, as the liturgy says in this season, "the Saviour of the world has come down from heaven", Pope John Paul II addressed the Cardinals, members of the Papal Household and leading members the Roman Curia whom he received in audience for the traditional exchange of Christmas greetings.
The Pope continued: “I am spiritually close to each and all and I am grateful for your work at the service of this Chair of Peter, each according to his own competencies and duties. May Jesus who is born full you with his gifts of grace and goodness and reward your daily fatigue often in silence and unseen. Share these sentiments of mine with the priests, religious and laity who work with you. One is the goal for which we all toil together: to proclaim the Gospel of Christ for the salvation of the world. This is a mission which we wish to fulfil with a spirit of faith and heart ready for sacrifice, if necessary even to the "passio sanguinis", of which Saint Augustine speaks. We are in fact as the Bishop of Hippo observes, at the service of a flock won, not with gold or silver but with the blood of Christ.”
Pope John Paul II urged those present to put Christ at the centre of life: “At the centre of our existence may there be always and only: Christ! As the years pass I am ever more deeply aware that Jesus calls us to be his witnesses, concerned only for his glory and for the good of souls.” Love of Christ inspired the Holy Father to write the Encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” and the post-synodal exhortations “Ecclesia in Europa” and “Pastores gregis” and this love inspired also his Apostolic Journeys to Spain, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Republic of Slovakia. “Awareness of Christ’s longing for the unity of believers - "ut unum sint" – inspired me to intensify ecumenical contact with representatives of the venerable Orthodox Churches, with the Primate of the Anglican Communion and with members of other Churches and ecclesial Communities, particularly those operating in Europe.”
The Pope then spoke about the Continent of Europe which “ in the past year has lived and continues to live a crucial stage in its history as it extends its borders to include other peoples and nations. It is important for Europe, enriched through the centuries with the treasure of the Christian faith, to confirm its origin and to revive these roots. The most important contribution which Christians are called to make towards the building of the new Europe is firstly that of their fidelity to Christ and his Gospel. Europe needs first of all saints and witnesses. Lastly the Pope mentioned another important task “for our day, when danger and threats to the harmonious coexistence of humanity continue to darken the horizon: to be witnesses of peace; to teach peace!”
(S.L.) (Fides Service 22/12/2003 – lines 35; words 501)
