Pope Francis recites his first New Year’s Angelus, highlighting the importance of giving ourselves to Mary’s maternal gaze – through which everything is possible.
By the editor of Vatican News
Pope Francis opened his first Angel of the New Year urging the faithful to unite “with the maternal and loving look of Mary Most Holy”. The Pope explained that the liturgy of the day celebrates Mary “as the Mother of God”.
Pope Francis went on to explain that along our journey along the paths of time, “the reassuring and consoling look of the Blessed Virgin Mary” is one of encouragement, as we entrust our anguish and torment to her, “that everything can”. Mary looks at us with the same maternal tenderness with which she looked at her son Jesus, and this look is “a breath,” he said. This look guarantees that this time “given to us by the Lord” can be dedicated “to our human and spiritual growth”, continued the Pope; a time “to eliminate hatred and divisions”; “To feel that we are all more brothers”; “Build and not destroy” and “take care of each other and creation”.
World Peace Day
The Pope continued with the theme of this year’s World Day of Peace: The culture of care as a path to peace ‘. This theme, the Pope continued, “is dedicated to the care of others and of creation”.
Pope Francis added that “the painful events that marked the path of humanity in the past year, especially the pandemic, teach us how it is necessary to take an interest in the problems of others and share their concerns”. This attitude, he continued, “represents the path that leads to peace”. He explained that it is an attitude that “favors the construction of a society based on fraternity relations”.
“Each of us, men and women of our time, is called to make peace a reality every day and in all areas of life, reaching out to his brother who needs a word of comfort, a gesture of tenderness . , a helping hand of solidarity ”, said the Pope.
Peace that comes from within
“Peace can be built if we start to be at peace with ourselves and those around us,” he continued, explaining that this means “removing the obstacles that prevent us from caring for the needy and destitute”. What is needed, underlined the Pope, is to develop a mentality and culture of care, “to overcome the indifference, discord and rivalry that unfortunately prevail”.
“Peace is not only an absence of war, but a life rich in meaning, planned and lived in personal fulfillment and fraternal sharing with others. So that peace so desired and always threatened by violence, selfishness and evil, becomes possible and achievable ”, he said.
“In families, at work, in nations: peace. Peace. And now that we think that life today is resolved by wars, by enmities, by so many things that destroy … we want peace. And this is a gift.”
Concluding the reflection of the New Year’s Angelus, Pope Francis prayed that the Virgin Mary “obtain for us from heaven the precious good of peace” and expressed his hope that “peace may reign in the hearts of people and families; in work and leisure places; in communities and nations ”.
Finally, the Pope wished all the faithful and everyone in the world “a happy and peaceful 2021: a year full of confidence and hope”.