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| Pakistani Christians attend Christmas prayers at St. Peter's church in the city of Karachi on late December 24, 2011 |
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| Christians gather in Manger Square in Bethlehem on December 24, 2011. As the faithful crowded the ancient town where the Bible says Jesus was born, Pope Benedict XVI on Christmas Eve urged believers |
12/25/2011
Agence France-Presse
BETHLEHEM - Tens of thousands of Christians flocked to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas as the pope at the Vatican called for peace, humility and reconciliation.
As the faithful crowded the ancient town where the Bible says Jesus was born, Pope Benedict XVI on Christmas Eve urged believers to look beyond the "glitter" of the Christian holiday.
"Today Christmas has become a commercial celebration, whose bright lights hide the mystery of God’s humility, which in turn calls us to humility and simplicity," the pope told thousands at mass in Saint Peter's basilica.
"Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light," the 84-year-old pontiff said.
He also issued a scathing rebuke to "oppressors" and warmongers around the world.
"In this time of ours, in this world of ours, cause the oppressors’ rods, the cloaks rolled in blood and the footgear of battle to be burned, so that your peace may triumph in this world of ours," he said.
Peace was also a central theme in Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal's Christmas homily delivered in Bethlehem, where hotels and guesthouses were packed to capacity with pilgrims.
"We ask for peace, stability and security for the entire Middle East," said Twal, the most senior Roman Catholic in the Middle East.
In a midnight mass, he urged "the return of calm and reconciliation in Syria, in Egypt, in Iraq and in North Africa".
In popular uprisings in Tunis and Egypt which ended decades of secular dictatorships this year, Islamist parties have since taken centre stage.
The UN Security Council says Syria has killed more than 5,000 of its people in a clampdown on protesters in recent months, and Thursday attacks in Iraq killed 60 people, heightening sectarian tensions less than a week after US troops withdrew.
"O Child of Bethlehem, in this New Year, we place in your hands this troubled Middle East and, above all, our youth full of legitimate aspirations, who are frustrated by the economic and political situation, and in search of a better future," Twal said.
He welcomed Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas to the mass, and congratulating him "in his unfaltering efforts to achieve a just peace in the Middle East, a main thrust of which is the creation of a Palestinian State."
As day broke over Bethlehem, a few miles south of Jerusalem, residents welcomed thousands of pilgrims who came to see where the Bible says Jesus was born to a couple from Nazareth.
Palestinian officials expected more than 50,000 visitors from around the world.
"Hotels are full. We have no rooms left even though the number of hotel rooms has multiplied in the last three years," Palestinian tourism minister Khulud Daibes told AFP.
Christmas Eve celebrations are mainly in and around Manger Square, the central plaza next to the Church of the Nativity.
The church is built over the site where Christians believe Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable and laid him in an animal's feeding trough, or manger.
Boy scouts with drums and bagpipes marched through the town for the annual Christmas parade ahead of concerts and other entertainment on what is the year's biggest tourist attraction in the Palestinian territories, where Christmas is a national holiday.
A huge Christmas tree covered in lights and decorations dominated the square, which filled up with excited visitors, some wearing red Santa hats and others in the somber garb of various monastic orders.
Tourists snapped pictures of the giant tree and of a local dressed up as Father Christmas, as a group of foreign activists in Santa hats, each wearing a letter on their clothes, lined up to spell the words: Free Palestine.
There were also Muslims among the crowds. Many veiled women brought their children to join the celebrations of the birth of Jesus, or Isa in Arabic, whom they revere as a prophet.
"I'm here today to see the celebrations like every year. We come as Christians and Muslims to see them," said Shireen Knaan. "There is no difference between Christians and Muslims as it is the Prophet Isa's birthday."
The Israeli army eased security measures to facilitate the arrival in Bethlehem of Palestinian and Arab-Israeli Christians.
The town is cut off from neighbouring Israel by part of the separation barrier that snakes along, and often inside, the line dividing Israel from the West Bank.
Roman Catholics, Protestants and some Eastern Orthodox celebrate Christmas on December 25, but other Orthodox and oriental churches do not do so until January.
In London, anti-capitalist protesters camped outside St Paul's Cathedral celebrated Christmas with the church, putting aside old squabbles.
In the spirit of Christmas goodwill, clergy sang for the 200-odd protesters camped on the church's doorstep since October, and invited them to attend midnight mass.
10 comments:
The Vatican owns 20% of real estate in Roma don't any tax. It shows an indecent luxury and want to defend the poor. Hypocrizy and lies since 2 millenium
as long as there was a sheep ( khmer israel) to shear
1% of the U.S. population owns 40% of the wealth of the country. Should we thank Jesus for this injustice?
The Khmer who eats in the hands of Uncle Sam, brainwashed by the bible, want all the Khmer of Cambodia ADOPTED the christian way of life. Buddha taught us respect for other beliefs
The Vatican is a city of whores. She hoards so much wealth and she tells me to be "simple"?
Enjoy your celebration now because when Messiah comes he will not allow Christmas to be celebrated at his holy temple or in the land.
Khmer Israel
"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
Cambodian needs a good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He won't eat his own sheep like Pot Pol Or Kim Youn Kill.
Khmer Israel
sorry Jews are parasites on this planet. Rockfeller, Madoff, Kissingern Natanyahu..., have blood in their hand to conquer the world and form the empire today. Thank, it is a model of christians, slaves of jews
"Jews are parasites" Ha Ha Ha, good one! Well, if you have a cellphone, throw that away because it was invented by an Israeli. Bill Gates, I think he is a Jew, do you use Microsoft product?
Karl Marx was a Jew too. Let me try to justify my position; because some Jews who happened to be evil doesn't render that all the Jews are evil.
Jews are not exempt from evil. At one time in history, the judgment of God came upon them for their evil ways, over one million of them were slaughtered in one week in Jerusalem. If God judge his own nation, he will Judge other nations also.
I happened to read of a Jew who was so concern during Pol Pot take over in Cambodia what was going on during that time would not be a repeat likw the Jewish Holocaust that took place in Germany. He was instrumental to seek the welfare of the Cambodian people in their darkest hour.
There are more Jewish humanitarian organizations around the world as compare to Buddhists humanatarian.
You can believe the LIE that Jews are out to conquere the world. I know about this charge that you brought up to paint the Jews as brutal beasts. But I know better by the word of God.
Jews never out to conquer the world at any time like we know about the Islamic religion. Jews were kicked off their land because of their rebellion against the word of God. Before you are so sure of your assumption, I bet the technologies that are being use in Cambodia today are most likely invented by an Israeli person.
Israeli has more stock index listed on the New York stock exchange than Cambodia or Thailand or China. From this fact I think the world are benefiting from the Israeli people by their inventions and services.
Khmer Israel
'here are more Jewish humanitarian organizations around the world as compare to Buddhists humanatarian."
Of course, they (jews) are the greatest weapons manufacturers of the world
Khmer Israel,
What on earth are you talking about?
The Jews never believe in Jesus!
Your preaching is full of nonsense!
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