Benedict XVI: 'The Christmas tree
reminds us that life endures'
VATICAN CITY, 16 DEC 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received a delegation from Ukraine, the country which donated the Christmas tree decorating St. Peter's Square this year.
The tree, a spruce from the Carpathians 30.5 metres high (about 98 feet, the height of a modern ten-story building) and decorated with 2,500 silver- and gold-coloured baubles, was to be lit this evening in the presence of Ukrainian bishops. Other smaller trees have also been donated, which will be set up at other places in Vatican City State.
Photo enlarged from RV thumbnail.
The Pope greeted the bishops accompanying the Ukrainian delegation: His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyc; Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki of Lviv of the Latins, and Bishop Milan Sasik C.M. of the eparchy of Mukachevo of the Byzantine rite, as well as members of the Orthodox Church led by the Archbishop of Poltava and Myrhorod.
The Christmas tree, said the Holy Father, is "a significant symbol of Christ's Nativity because, with its evergreen boughs, it reminds us of enduring life. The spruce is also a sign of popular religiosity in your country, and of the Christian roots of your culture. My hope is that these roots may increasingly reinforce your national unity, favouring the promotion of authentic shared values. Over the centuries your nation has been a crossroads of different cultures, a meeting point for the spiritual richness of East and West. By tenaciously adhering to the values of the faith, may it continue to response to this unique vocation".
The Christmas tree and the Nativity scene, Benedict XVI went on, "are elements of that typically Christmas atmosphere which is part of our communities' spiritual heritage; a climate impregnated with religiosity and family intimacy which we must seek to conserve, even in modern societies where consumerism and the search for material goods sometimes seem to prevail. Christmas is a Christian feast and its symbols are important references to the great mystery of the incarnation and birth of Jesus, which the liturgy constantly re-evokes. The Creator of the universe, by becoming a child, came among us to share our journey; He became small to enter the heart of man and renew it with His love. Let us prepare ourselves to welcome Him with faith".
Here is a translation of the Pope's remarks, which he began and ended in Ukrainian (translated to Italian in the Vatican bulletin), and delivering the body of the address in Italian:
In Ukrainian:
Dear brothers and sisters:
I am happy to welcome you here and address a sincere greeting to each of you.
In Italian:
I greet the Archbishop Major of Kyiv-Halyč, His Beatitutde Sviatoslav Schevchuk, Archbishop of Leopoli of the Latins; Mons. Mieczysław Mokrzycki; and the Eparch of Mukachevo, Mons. Milan Šašik, along with the other brothers in the Episcopate and priesthood in the Greek Catholic and Latin churches. I extend my affectionate thoughts to all the Ukrainian faithful whom you represent here today.
My deferential greeting to the civilian authorities from the Ukraine, especially the Deputy Prime Minister, Kolesnikov Borys. I thank him for the kind words he addressed to me, and for the gift of the towering Christmas tree which adorns St. Peter's Square, and also for the icon.
I address a special greeting to the distinguished representatives of the Orthodox Church, led by the Archbishop of Poltava and Mykhorod, and express my sincere appreciation for the significance of their presence.
Finally, I greet all Ukrainians, those in their homeland, those who are dispersed around the world, and those who are here in Rome.
This Christmas tree stands beside the Nativity scene which is being set up, and they will remain to the end of the Christmas celebrations to be admired by the residents of Rome as well as pilgrims coming from all parts of the world.
The tree is a significant symbol of the Nativity of Christ, because with its evergreen branches, it reminds us that life endures. The fir is also a sign of the popular religiosity in your land and of the Christian roots of your culture. I hope that these roots may firm up ever more your national unity, favoring the promotion of authentic shared values.
In the course of centuries, your country has been a crossroads of various cultures, a meeting place for the spiritual riches of the East and the West. In your tenacious adherence to the faith, may you continue to respond to this particular calling.
You have also given us, along with this imposing red fir, smaller trees for the Apostolic Palace and other places in the Vatican. These trees, along with your traditional music, your evocative music, and your local products, will make known to Rome the typical elements of your country.
May your pilgrimage inspire in the entire Ukrainian Christian community a renewed desire to live and bear witness to the faith with joy, promoting the values of life, solidarity, and peace, which the Nativity of Christ recalls to us every year.
During this season of Advent, the Church invites us to prepare ourselves for the Birth of the Savior, intensifying our spiritual journey and our relationship with Christ.
Our time requires holy Christians who are enthusiastic about their own faith! The Virgin Mary is our model and guide: in order to understand the will of God on her life, and the meaning of the events that had to do with the Son of God.
She shows us her singular contemplative outlook: she listens, she observes, she 'keeps' her thoughts, she meditates, she prays. And what need there is to recover a taste for prayer! How attentive we ought to be not to allow ourselves to be overcome by the demanding rhythms of life which prevent us from going back into ourselves and to find ourselves once more before the stupendous mystery of God that resides in our heart!
Dear friends, the tree and the creche are elements of the typical atmosphere of Christmas which belongs to the spiritual patrimony of our communities. It is an atmosphere suffused with religiosity as well as familiar intimacy that we must conserve, even in today's society, where consumerism and the quest for material goods often seems to prevail.
Christmas is a Christian feast and its symbols constitute important references to the great mystery of the Incarnation and the Birth of Jesus that the liturgy constantly re-evokes.
The Creator of the Universe, becoming a baby, came among us to share our journey. He made himself tiny to enter into the heart of man and renew it with his love. So let us predispose ourselves to welcome him with faith.
He ended in Ukrainian:
I renew my sincere gratitude to all of you, to your co-workers who have stayed behind, and for those who did wonders to transport the tree to Rome. Thank you for the contribution that each of you have offered with great generosity.
I take this occasion to express my fervent best wishes for the coming Christmas and the Christmas festivities. I assure you I will remember you in in my prayers, along with your families, Ukraine and all Ukrainians, as I impart the Apostolic Blessing. Merry Christmas.
Ukraine flavor at Vatican's
Christmas tree lighting
VATICAN CITY, Dec. 16 (AP) — Ukrainian pilgrims sang folk songs and carols and recalled the late Pope John Paul II's visit to the Ukraine, as the Vatican lit its Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square, a 25-meter (82-foot) pine from the Carpathian mountains in their country.
The tree was decorated with 2,500 gold and silver balls and figures of animals and toys. The ceremony Friday evening included a folk choir with children carrying giant pinwheels, a Christmas tradition in Ukraine.
Polish-born John Paul began the tradition of erecting a tall Christmas tree in the square in 1982; the Bavarian-born Pope Benedict XVI has continued it.
Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, who served as a secretary to John Paul[and Benedict XVI, who named him Archbishop of Lviv] before returning to his homeland of Ukraine, said the tree was "to thank John Paul" for his 2001 visit.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 21/12/2011 02:25]