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Be peacemakers, Pope says on his 1st Xmas
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-25 10:15
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, ushering in his first Christmas as
Pontiff, on Sunday urged the world's Catholics to be beacons of peace in a
troubled world and offered a special prayer for an end to strife in the Holy
Land.
Pope Benedict XVI
arrives to lead the midnight mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the
Vatican, December 25, 2005. [Reuters]
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78-year-old German-born Pope, who was elected last April 19 to succeed Pope John
Paul, celebrated a solemn Christmas Eve mass in St Peter's Basilica to lead the
world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics into one of the holiest seasons of the year.
"Where there is love, light shines forth in the world; where there is hatred,
the world remains in darkness," he said in his homily before the congregation in
a packed basilica.
Pilgrims and tourists had flocked from around the world to attend Benedict's
first Christmas as Pope.
Those who did not manage to obtain tickets, which are distributed free,
watched in the cold night air on giant screens in the square outside
Christendom's largest church.
"The light of Bethlehem has never been extinguished. In every age it has
touched men and women, it has shone around them," he said, wearing gold and
white vestments.
Some 30 cardinals among those who elected Benedict last April joined him at
the great basilica's main altar for the celebration that was televised live to
46 countries and followed by tens of millions of people on television and radio.
Benedict recounted the Christmas story of Christ's birth in a stable in
Bethlehem and asked Catholics not to forget that the true meaning of Christmas
was the "inner light" radiating from the Child Jesus.
"Let us keep this light-giving flame from being extinguished by the cold
winds of our time!" he said.
He urged his listeners to help to end conflicts and misunderstandings
wherever they were found.
"Let us strive to be active heralds of his peace in the world of today," he
said.
"Christ gives himself to us and, in doing so, gives us his peace. He gives it
to us so that we can carry the light of peace within and give it to others. He
gives it to us so that we can become peacemakers and builders of peace in the
world," he said.
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