Pope on Christmas: Bethlehem trek's like today's migrations
Pope Francis
in Christmas Eve remarks Sunday likened the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem
to the migrations of millions of people today who are forced to leave homelands
for a better life, or just for survival, and he expressed hope that no one will
feel "there is no room for them on this Earth."
Francis
celebrated late evening Christmas vigil Mass in the splendor of St. Peter's
Basilica, telling the faithful that the "simple story" of Jesus'
birth in a manger changed "our history forever. Everything that night
became a source of hope."
Noting that
Mary and Joseph arrived in a land "where there was no place for
them," Francis drew parallels to contemporary time.
"So
many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary," he
said in his homily. "We see the tracks of entire families forced to set
out in our own day. We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose
to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones."
"In
many cases this departure is filled with hope, hope for the future; yet for
many this departure can only have one name: survival," the pope said.
No comments: