(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis this evening telephoned refugees sheltered in Kurdistan to express his closeness to them on Christmas night.
The telephone call to Father Benoca, who heads the Christian community in the Ankawa Refugee Center near Erbil, the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan, was broadcast live by an Italian Catholic TV station.
Listen :
Thousands of persecuted Christians have sought refuge in the camp following the invasion of Islamic State militants of Mosul.
Over the telephone line, the Pope told refugees that he is “close to them with all of his heart” and assured him he praying for them.
“You are like Jesus on the night of his birth when he had been forced to flee. You are like Jesus in this situation, and that means we are praying even harder for you”.
“Dear brothers – Pope Francis said – I am very, very close to you with all of my heart. May the Lord caress you with His tenderness”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis this evening telephoned refugees sheltered in Kurdistan to express his closeness to them on Christmas night. The telephone call to Father Benoca, who heads the Christian community in the Ankawa Refugee Center near Erbil, the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan, was broadcast live by an Italian Catholic TV station. Listen: Thousands…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’s celebration of Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and his Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day will be streamed live by Vatican Radio on Youtube. Listeners will be able to hear the radio commentary of the events in five languages, German, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese and on another channel listen to the original audio in Italian.
The link-ups are at 21.30 Rome time for December 24th and 12 noon Rome time on Christmas Day.
Listeners will be able to follow both these events from any computer, tablet and smartphone by going to the link: “youtube.com/Vatican”
The same events will also be broadcast at the same time on the Vatican Player, by going to the website: “radiovaticana.va” and this will also include a radio commentary of the Midnight Mass in Chinese.
The Holy Mass on New Year’s Day will also be streamed on Youtube and the Vatican player in different languages, beginning at 10.00 am Rome time.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’s celebration of Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and his Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day will be streamed live by Vatican Radio on Youtube. Listeners will be able to hear the radio commentary of the events in five languages, German, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese and on another channel listen…
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(Vatican Radio) One of the most memorable moments of the past year was Pope Francis’ historic visit to Korea. On Wednesday, the Holy Father recalled his journey in a video-message addressed to all Koreans for Christmas:
Below, please find the translation of the Pope’s Christmas message to Korea:
Dear Korean brothers and sisters,
With great pleasure I send you best wishes for the Holy Nativity, recalling with joy and gratitude the Voyage I took to your country this past August. The great celebration in honour of the Martyrs, the meeting with young people, and also the other moments of the visit remain vividly in my memory.
I pray the Lord that the light, shining on the world from the Baby of Bethlehem, might be always in your hearts, in your families and communities.
At Christmas, once more, Jesus draws us to Himself with His divine goodness. And Jesus is good, very good… It is His presence only that can give true happiness to mankind; without Him there is none, because He is capable of making life ever new and beautiful.
My dear friends, I ask you to pray for me, and from my heart I wish you a peaceful and holy Christmas!
(from Vatican Radio)…