In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. I congratulate and greet you for the beginning of the New Year, 2021, and for the glorious Feast of the Nativity. And when we begin a new year we begin it with joy and hope, for we know that the Eye of God is upon us from the very beginning of the year, knowing that it is God who leads our steps, knowing that God is the Ruler over all.

Unfortunately, our world and our country are witnessing a frantic and sometimes an armed race for power and money, rather than providing services. There is no real peace unless we get rid of this “fatal” selfishness in order to consolidate true fraternity among us. Peace is an essential and ultimate goal for every human being, and without it there is no stable life and no progress.

In his message for the Catholic Church’s World Day of Peace, Pope Francis appeals to the international community and every individual to foster a “culture of care” by advancing on the “path of fraternity, justice and peace between individuals, communities, peoples and nations.”

In the midst of the difficulties we are experiencing this year, Christmas comes to remind us that God is present among us. He assumed our humanity, was incarnated and born for the sake of our salvation, to renew our nature and restore us to the dignity of His children, assuring us of eternal life.

Each year as we celebrate Christmas, we read the story of the miraculous birth of Jesus. The Virgin Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, and the Magi from the East are with us every year.

We, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, greet you all in the name of the Babe of Bethlehem during this blessed and holy season of Christmas, the commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I am sure that we would have liked to celebrate this Christmas in a very different way. We would have preferred that Bethlehem might resound as it always has at this time of the year with joy and celebration in its streets, especially for our children.

BETHLEHEM, Palestine – Christmas this year is definitely different in the Holy Land, especially in Bethlehem. Since the start of the Advent season and amid the increases of COVID-19 cases in the country, Christmas festivities in the city were scaled down, last of which were the Christmas entrance and procession of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Midnight Mass at the Church of St. Catherine.

The Bible teaches us that God has visited his people throughout the ages, with fatherly tenderness, He made a covenant with them that their longing for a Messiah will be fulfilled with the birth of a child in the womb of the Virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit, as Saint Paul reminds us: « But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman… that we might receive the adoption as sons » (Gal 4: 4-5).

Mi dolor es grande cuando veo el sufrimiento y la ansiedad que sofocan el espíritu de iniciativa y vitalidad que se han multiplicado en el país de los Cedros. Lo que más duele es el secuestro de todas las queridas esperanzas de vivir en paz, de la supervivencia de la historia y del mundo, mensaje de libertad y testimonio de una vida digna en común.

Pope Francis writes a letter to the people of Lebanon expressing his closeness in this time of suffering, and appealing to political leaders and the international community to take action and help the nation overcome the crisis.

Seventeen years since the fall of Saddam Hussein, the fractious Iraqi nation—divided mostly between Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish Muslims—remains unable to agree on a national day. But they can agree on Christmas. Last week, the parliament unanimously passed a law to make Christmas a “national holiday, with annual frequency.”

Encyclical Letter

Fratelli Tutti on Fraternity and Social Friendship

El Consejo Pontificio para la Promoción de la Unidad de los Cristianos publicó una guía para animar y ayudar a los obispos católicos a cumplir con sus responsabilidades ecuménicas.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity publishes a guidebook to encourage and assist Catholic Bishops in fulfilling their ecumenical responsibilities.

Queridos amados,

"Gracia y paz en abundancia para ustedes" (1 Pedro 1, 2).

Me gustaría dirigirles esta carta con ocasión de la visita del Papa Francisco a Irak debido a su importancia nacional y eclesiástica:

Dear Beloved,

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance” (1 Peter: 1).

I would like to address this letter to you on the occasion of Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq due to its national and ecclesiastical significance

The Apostolic Penitentiary issues a Decree granting plenary indulgences for the year of St. Joseph proclaimed by Pope Francis on Tuesday. The special year will last from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021.

JERUSALEM - On Friday, December 4, 2020, a religious Jew started a fire inside the Basilica of All Nations (Agony) at Gethsemane in Jerusalem, causing damage to a number of pews.

"I want to assure my prayers for Nigeria, where blood has unfortunately been spilled once more in a terrorist attack." Pope Francis gave that assurance in remarks at the end of the Wednesday General Audience. He was referring to a massacre which took place on Saturday in the village of Zabarmari, in Borno State.