Pope Francis recites his first New Year’s Angelus, focusing on the importance of entrusting Mary’s motherly gaze – by which everything is possible.
By Vatican News staff writer
Pope Francis opened his first New Year’s Angelus, urging believers to join “placing us under the motherly and loving gaze of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The pope explained that the liturgy of the day celebrates Mary “as the Mother of God.”
Pope Francis went on to explain that throughout our journey through time, “the soothing and comforting gaze of the Blessed Virgin Mary” is one of encouragement, as we entrust her suffering and torment, “who can do all the things”. Mary looks at us with the same maternal tenderness with which she looked at her son Jesus, and this look is “an encouragement,” he said. This view ensures that this time “given by the Lord” can be one “spent for our human and spiritual growth,” the Pope continued; a time “to eliminate hatred and divisions”; “Let us feel that we are all more brothers and sisters”; “To build and not to destroy” and “to take care of each other and of creation”.
World Peace Day
The Pope went on to observe this year’s Peace Day theme: The culture of care as a path to peace ‘. This theme, the Pope continued, “is dedicated to caring for others and for creation.”
Pope Francis went on to note that “the painful events that have marked the path of humanity in the last year, especially the pandemic, teach us how necessary it is to take an interest in the problems of others and share their concerns.” This attitude, he continued, “represents the road to peace.” He explained that it is an attitude that “favors the construction of a society based on fraternal relations.”
“Each of us, men and women of our time, is called to make peace a reality every day and in every area of life, holding out the hand of a brother or sister who needs a word of comfort, a gesture of tenderness, a helping hand of solidarity “, said the Pope.
Peace that comes from within
“Peace can be built if we begin to be at peace with ourselves and those around us,” he continued, explaining that this means “removing obstacles that prevent us from caring for those in need and need.” What is needed, the Pope stressed, is to develop a mentality and a culture of care, “to overcome the indifference, discord and rivalry that, unfortunately, predominates.”
“Peace is not just the absence of war, but a life rich in meaning, planned and lived in personal fulfillment and fraternal communion with others. Then the peace so desired and always endangered by violence, selfishness and evil becomes possible and achievable “, he said.
“In families, at work, in nations: peace. Peace. And now, when we believe that today’s life is solved by wars, by enemies, by so many things that destroy … we want peace. And this is a gift.”
Concluding his reflection on the New Year of Angelus, Pope Francis prayed that the Virgin Mary “may obtain for us from heaven the precious good of peace” and expressed her hope that “peace will reign in the hearts and families of men; in jobs and leisure; in communities and nations ”.
Finally, the Pope wished all believers and all those around the world “a happy and peaceful 2021: a year full of confident expectations and hopes.”