December 14, 2009. During the Angelus address, thousands of children gathered at St. Peter’s Square as the Pope blessed statues of baby Jesus that families, will display in their homes.
The pope encouraged them not to display a nativity scene because it’s a tradition, rather to help them live for what it symbolizes.
Benedict XVI
“It is not enough to repeat a traditional gesture, however important. It is necessary to try to live every day what the nativity scene represents, that is, Christ's love, his humility, his poverty.”
The pope also honored 4 missionaries who were killed last week in Africa.
Benedict XVI
“They were faithful witnesses of the Gospel, which they knew how to proclaim, even at the risk of their own lives.”
Benedict XVI concluded the Angelus by inviting people to pray with him for the missionaries, their families and for peace and reconciliation in the world.
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