ANGELUS TODAY
The Pope wore his winter mozzetta for his first Angelus of 2010.
After the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father appeared at his study window about ten minutes later to lead the noontime Angelus.
Here is a translation of his words before and after the prayers:
Today the Lord gifts us with the start of a new year in his name and under the loving eyes of the Most Blessed Mary, whose Divine Motherhood we celebrate today. I am happy to be with you for this first Angelus of 2010.
I address you all, who have gathered in such great numbers here in St. Peter's Square, and to those who join us in prayer through radio and television. I wish for everyone that the year which has just begun may be a time when, with the help of the Lord, we can walk to meet Jesus and the will of God, so that we may improve our common home which is the world.
A goal that can be shared by everyone, an indispensable condition for peace, is to administer the resources of the earth with justice and wisdom.
"If you wish to cultivate peace, safeguard Creation": to this theme, which is of great relevance today, I dedicated my message for the 43rd World Day of Peace today.
When the Message was first published, heads of state and government were assembled in Copenhagen for a summit on the climate, where once more, the urgency of orientations agreed upon on a global level emerged.
Nonetheless, at this time, I wish to underscore the importance, for the protection of the environment, of choices made by individuals, families and local administrations.
"A change of mentality that can lead everyone to adopt new lifestyles has become indispensable" (cfr Message, No. 11). Indeed, we are all responsible for the protection and care of creation.
That is why even in this field, education is fundamental: to learn to respect nature, to orient ourselves increasingly to "building peace starting with wide-ranging choices at the personal, familial, communitarian and political levels" (ibid.).
If we must take care of the creatures that surround us, what consideration must we have for persons, our brothers and sisters? What respect for human life?
On the first day of the year, I wish to address an appeal to the consciences of those who are part of armed groups of any kind. To each and everyone, I say: "Stop, reflect, and abandon the way of violence! At the moment, this may seem impossible to you, but if you have the courage to do it, God will help you, and you will feel the joy of peace, which perhaps you have forgotten for some time, return to your hearts".
I entrust this appeal to the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God, Mary. Today, the liturgy reminds us that eight days after the birth of her Baby, she, along with her spouse Joseph, had him circumcised, according to the law of Moses, and named him Jesus, as the angel had called him (cfr Lk 2,21).
This name, which means 'God saves', is the fulfillment of God's revelation. Jesus is the face of God, he is the blessing for every man and for all peoples, he is peace for the world.
Thank you, Holy Mother, for giving birth to the Savior, the Prince of Peace!
After the prayers, he said this:
These days, I have received so many messages and greetings. I thank everyone with affection, especially for their gift of prayer.
I wish to address a special wish to the President of the Italian Republic. To him, to the other authorities of the state, and to the entire Italian people, I express best wishes for the year that has just begun.
On today's World Day for Peace, I address a cordial greeting to the participants of the march entitled "Peace in all countries", promoted by the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome and in many other countries of the world.
I extend the expression of my spiritual closeness to the multiple initiatives for peace organized by local churches, associations and ecclesial movements. I think in particular of the national marches staged yesterday in Terni and L'Aquila.
In English, he said:
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Angelus prayer and I wish you all a blessed New Year filled with abundant joy and consolation in Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
On this World Day of Peace I pray that Christians everywhere, through the intercession of Mary the Mother of God, may be careful stewards of nature and diligent promoters of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace!
NB: Although the Holy Father also spoke of environmental responsibility in his homily at the morning Mass,
this Reuters report refers to his Angelus message later which develops the message.
Pope urges lifestyle changes
to save environment
VATICAN CITY, Jan. 1 (Reuters) – Pope Benedict used his
traditional New Year address [it was his Angelus homily!] on Friday to call on people to change their lifestyles to save the planet, saying environmental responsibility was essential for global peace.
Recalling that world leaders had gathered in Copenhagen last month for the U.N. climate conference, the Pope said action at a personal and community level was just as important to safeguard the environment.
"Nevertheless, in this moment, I would like to underline the importance of the choices of individuals, families and local administrations in preserving the environment," the Pope told the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
"An objective shared by all, an indispensable condition for peace, is that of overseeing the earth's natural resources with justice and wisdom."
The Pope, who had a scare last week when a woman with a history of mental problems knocked him down during Christmas Eve mass, also said "ecological responsibility" should be taught as part of the education syllabus.
The Pope and his predecessor John Paul have put the Vatican firmly on an
environmentalist footing.
[That is such a wrong take! Promoting individual and social awareness of man's responsibility to safeguard Creation is not being 'environmentalist', a description that appies to environmental ideologues for whom the environment often seems to be more important than man himself. Most of Benedict XVI's message on the environment warn specifically against such ecocentrism.]
Last month, in a message sent to heads of state and international organizations, the Pope called on rich nations to acknowledge responsibility for the environmental crisis and shed consumerism.
[Partial, tendentious reporting of the Pope's environmental messages by the liberal media who are environmental ideologues is most unfair and patently wrong. It distorts the Pope's message because it appears to put him - and Church teaching about ecological responsibility - in the same class as Al Gore and his fellow fanatics.]
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 02/01/2010 00:37]