translated from Spanish: Pope calls for “hope” for American nations in his Christmas “Urbi et orbi” blessing

Pope Francis called for “hope” for the American continent “where various nations are having a period of social and political upheaval,” on Wednesday in his traditional blessing “Urbi et Orbi,” in which he also called for solutions to the crisis in the Middle East and Africa.The pontiff had in particular a word for Venezuela, asking that “the little Child of Bethlehem” revive “the dear Venezuelan people, long tested by political and social tensions, and do not need the help they need” . In his traditional Christmas message in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, the seventh since taking office, Francis also urged the international community to “ensure security in the Middle East, particularly in Syria.” The pontiff also praised “the efforts of those who are working to promote justice and reconciliation, and are unveiled to overcome the various crises and the many forms of poverty that offend the dignity of each person”. May Christ “inspire the rulers and the international community to find solutions that guarantee the security and peaceful coexistence of those in the region and put an end to the suffering,” the pope said.” May Christ be a light for so many children suffering from war and conflict in the Middle East and in various countries of the world,” he added. Argentina’s Jorge Bergoglio also called for a solution to the political crisis in Lebanon, a country of “harmonious coexistence” and denounced the action of “extremist groups on the African continent”, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.Al speak of the various areas of the planet in conflict, the pope stressed that the inhabitants of the Holy Land “await days of peace, security and prosperity,” and also mentioned the “social tensions” in Iraq and the “serious humanitarian crisis” in Yemen. He also referred to Ukraine “which aspires to concrete solutions to achieve lasting peace.”- “Walls of indifference” on Wednesday, in another common Christmas message the pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, supported the difficult peace talks in South Sudan, the day after its postponement until early January. Francis, who has made support for migrants one of the priorities of his pontificate, did not ignore in his message “Urbi et Orbi” criticism of “the walls of indifference” faced by migrants.” In the hope of a safe life” they end up suffering “unspeakable abuses, slavery of all kinds and torture in inhuman earlier detention camps,” he said. This blessing “Urbi et orbi” is performed twice a year, at Easter and Christmas.During his traditional Christmas homily, on Tuesday night, the pontiff emphasized the importance of “unconditional” and “free” love in the face of market logic.” Let us not wait for our neighbour to become good to do him good, that the Church is perfect to love her, that others consider us to be servile. Let’s start the first ones,” Jorge Bergoglio said. This year, the festivities are marked by the return to the Holy Land of what is considered a fragment of the cradle of Jesus, a gift from Pope Francis that was received in Jerusalem and then transferred at the end of November to Bethlehem, after 1,300 years in Europa.La image of the Catholic Church is overshadowed in several countries by the huge sex abuse scandals committed by the clergy, and today the pope is trying to carry out a reform of the Curia’s finances.

Original source in Spanish