(Vatican Radio) The Third Sunday of Advent is the traditional day when the children of Rome bring the Baby Jesus statues from their Nativity Scenes at home to St. Peter’s Square to be blessed by the Pope during the Sunday Angelus. The day is affectionately known as “Bambinelli Sunday.” “Today, my first greeting goes to the children and young people of Rome who have come for the traditional blessing of the “Bambinelli ,”which has been organized by parish churches and Catholic schools,” – Pope Francis told them – “Dear children, when you pray in front of your crèche with your parents, ask the Baby Jesus to help us all to love God and neighbor. And remember to pray for me, as I remember you.” Pope Francis returned to the children at the very end of his Angelus. “And one thing I want to say to the children and young people: We want to hear one of your songs!” Pope Francis said, ending his appearance with the command: “Sing!” (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has prayed for the victims of several terrorist attacks which had taken place in the hours before his Sunday Angelus.
In Egypt, a bomb outside St. Mark’s Coptic Cathedral in Cairo killed at least 25 people on Sunday morning; in Somalia, a suicide bomber killed over a dozen people in Mogadishu on Sunday morning; and in Turkey, at least 38 people were killed in twin bomb attacks outside a football stadium in Instanbul on Saturday evening.
“And we also pray for the victims of some horrible terrorist attacks which have hit various countries in the last few hours,” Pope Francis said after reciting the Angelus.
“There are several places, but unfortunately, unique is the violence that sows death and destruction. But the response is also unique: Faith in God and unity in human and civil values,” – Pope Francis said – “I would like to express a special closeness to my dear brother Pope Tawadros II [the head of the Coptic Church] and to his community, and I am praying for the dead and the wounded.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday appealed that the world not ignore the plight of the people in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
Russian-backed Syrian troops have been fighting to retake portions of the city which are still held by rebels. The conflict has killed hundreds of people in the past few weeks, many of them civilians.
“Every day I am close, especially in prayer, to the people of Aleppo,” Pope Francis said after his Angelus address.
“We must not forget that Aleppo is a city in which there are people: Families, children, the elderly, sick people … Unfortunately, we have become accustomed to war, to destruction; but we must not forget Syria is a country full of history , culture and faith,” – the Pope continued – “We cannot accept that this is negated by war, which is a pile of abuses and falsehoods. I make an appeal for the commitment of everyone, because we face a choice of civilization: No to destruction, Yes to peace, Yes to the people of Aleppo and Syria.”
(from Vatican Radio)…