Pope Francis said the story of Jesus’ birth as the son of a poor carpenter should instill hope that all people can have an impact on the world, as the pontiff led the world’s Roman Catholics toward Christmas on Tuesday.
Francis, celebrating the 12th Christmas of his pontificate, presided over a solemn Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and inaugurated the Catholic Holy Year 2025, which the Vatican hopes will attract some 32 million tourists to Rome next year.
In a sermon focused on the virtue of hope, which is also the theme of the Holy Year, the pontiff said that hope “is a call not to delay, to not be held back by our old habits, or to wallow in mediocrity or laziness”.
“Hope calls us… to be disgusted with things that are wrong and to find the courage to change them,” he said.
A Catholic Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee, is considered a time of peace, forgiveness and indulgence. They are normally celebrated every 25 years. Pilgrims who come to Rome during the year can obtain special indulgences, or the remission of their sins. This Jubilee will last until January 6, 2026.
At the beginning of Tuesday’s ceremony, Francis oversaw the opening of a special bronze-paneled “Holy Door” in St. Peter’s, which is only opened during jubilee years. The Vatican expects up to 100,000 pilgrims to pass through the gate each day next year.
At the papal mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica before thousands of faithful and thousands of spectators on the screens in the square, the Pope reiterated his call to developed countries to take advantage of the Jubilee to reduce the debt burden of nations low income.
“The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world,” said the Pontiff. “A time of jubilee for the poorest countries burdened by unjust debts; a time of jubilee for all those subjected to old and new forms of slavery.”
A call for direct debt cancellation by the late Pope John Paul II during the Jubilee year of 2000 triggered a campaign that resulted in the cancellation of $130 billion of debt between 2000 and 2015.
Francis, who turned 88 this month, has been suffering from what the Vatican has described as a cold. On Tuesday night he seemed to be in good shape, although his voice was a little raspy.
On Wednesday, the Pope will deliver his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) Christmas Day message and blessing.
With information from Reuters.
Follow information about business and current affairs in Forbes Mexico
Do you like to get informed through Google News? Follow our Showcase to have the best stories
