On the third Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis was greeted by special cheers from 25,000 people as he prepared to pray the Angelus in St. Peter's Square. In addition to being Bambinelli Sunday, it was also the pope's 81st birthday.
“Happy birthday to you...”
The Holy Father thanked the crowd for their happy birthday wishes in both English and Italian before bestowing his blessing on the baby Jesus figures the children had brought in honor of Bambinelli Sunday. Pope Francis also gave them some prayer advice.
POPE FRANCIS
“When you pray at home, before the crib, with members of your family, let yourselves be drawn by the tenderness of baby Jesus, born poor and frail in our midst, to give His love. This is the true Christmas.”
As usual, the pope gave a special reflection on the liturgy, urging Christians to grasp the spirit of preparing for the coming of the Lord. He said this attitude involves three elements – continual joy, persevering prayer and constant thanksgiving. The pope urged everyone to repeat in unison before asserting the importance of the Blessed Mother.
POPE FRANCIS
“Let us all say it together: joy, prayer and gratitude. Again! Joy, prayer and gratitude. Louder! In this last stretch of the season of Advent, we entrust ourselves to the maternal intercession of Mary. She is the cause of our joy, not only because She generated Jesus, but because She sends us continually to Him.”
To conclude, Pope Francis made his own appeal for the safe release of the six Nigerian religious sisters who were kidnapped over a month ago.
POPE FRANCIS
“I pray with insistence for them and for all the other persons who find themselves in this painful condition.”
Although he had said no special celebrations were planned for his birthday, the pope held a pizza party with sick children later in the day.
