Pope Francis spent time in silent prayer in front of a nativity scene handmade by artisan craftsmen in Guatemala on Dec. 3, 2022. / Photo courtesy of the Embassy of Guatemala to the Holy See. See CNA article for full slideshow.
Vatican City, Dec 3, 2022 / 12:00 pm (CNA).
Pope Francis blessed a nativity scene on Saturday that was handmade by artisan craftsmen in Guatemala.
Guatemala’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Búcaro led a delegation that traveled from the Latin American country to be present for the nativity scene’s inauguration in Vatican City’s Paul VI Hall on Dec. 3.
“It is the first time in history that our country presents a nativity scene in the Vatican, a beautiful work of sacred art, personally delivered to Pope Francis and, therefore, also a gift from the people of Guatemala in anticipation of Christmas,” Búcaro said.
Guests of the Embassy of Guatemala to the Holy See at the nativity’s inauguration. Embassy of Guatemala to the Holy See
The nativity scene was made by the combined effort of more than 30 artisans. It features the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, wearing large golden crowns, in a manger surrounded by angels.
Nativity scene handmade by artisan craftsmen in Guatemala. Embassy of Guatemala to the Holy See
At the nativity’s inauguration, Pope Francis explained that the nativity scene tells of “the birth of the Son of God who became man to be close to each of us.”
“In its genuine poverty, the nativity scene helps us to rediscover the true richness of Christmas,” the pope said.
“Simple and familiar, the nativity scene recalls a different Christmas from the consumerist and commercial one. … It reminds us how good it is for us to cherish moments of silence and prayer in our days, which are often overwhelmed by frenzy.”
In St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican has also displayed an outdoor wooden nativity scene hand carved from alpine cedar trees from Italy’s northeasternmost region, Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Pope Francis recommended silent prayer and contemplation of the Christ child in a nativity scene as an intimate experience of God’s humility and tenderness.
Pope Francis blessed a nativity scene that was handmade by artisan craftsmen in Guatemala on Dec. 3, 2022. Vatican Media
“And if we really want to celebrate Christmas, let us rediscover through the nativity scene the surprise and wonder of littleness, the littleness of God, who made himself small, who was not born in the splendor of appearance, but in the poverty of a stable,” Pope Francis said.
The Guatemalan nativity scene will remain on display in Paul VI Hall until January 8, when the Church celebrates the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
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Vatican City, Aug 2, 2017 / 04:58 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday Pope Francis said that to be a Christian means to have hope in the light of Christ, which we are filled with at our Baptism, even in the midst of difficulties or darkness.
Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Angelus reflection on Oct. 6, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Oct 6, 2024 / 10:43 am (CNA).
“Be open to the gift of life,” Pope Francis urged married couples in his Sunday Angelus address, in which the pope described a recent encounter with a father of eight children as “a great consolation.”
Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 6, Pope Francis asked couples to reflect on whether their married life is fully open to the gift of children.
“For spouses, it’s essential to be open to the gift of life, to the gift of children. They are the most beautiful fruit of love, the greatest blessing from God, a source of joy and hope for every home and all of society. Have children!” Pope Francis said.
“Dear brothers and sisters, love is demanding, yes, but it is beautiful, and the more we allow ourselves to be involved by it, the more we discover true happiness in it,” he added.
The pope recounted how a member of the Vatican’s Gendarmerie Corps brought his eight children to a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica that the pope presided over on Saturday. Pope Francis described seeing the family as “a great consolation.”
“It was beautiful to see them,” he said. “Please, be open to life, to what God may send you.”
Francis encouraged married Catholics to “ask themselves: How is my love? Is it faithful? Is it generous? Is it creative?”
“How are our families?” Pope Francis added. “Are they open to life, to the gift of children?”
The Catholic Church teaches that all forms of artificial birth control are illicit and forbidden to married couples. This teaching was formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI, who in his encyclical Humanae Vitae declared that “any action … specifically intended to prevent procreation” was “absolutely excluded” as a lawful means of regulating the number of children in a Catholic marriage.
However, recent data from the federally administered National Survey of Family Growth shows large majorities of Catholics in the United States report using at least one form of artificial contraception — with over 90% having used condoms and more than 60% having used the hormonal birth control pill.
In his Angelus address, the pope offered a reflection on Sunday’s Gospel from the Gospel of Mark in which the Pharisees asked Jesus about whether the law permits divorce.
Pope Francis noted that the Lord’s reply to the Pharisees reminded them of “the demands of love.”
“He reminds them that woman and man were willed by the Creator as equal in dignity and complementary in diversity,” the pope said.
Francis emphasized that the mutual gift of married love is “destined to last not ‘as long as everything goes well’ but forever, accepting each other and living united as ‘one flesh.’”
“Of course, this is not easy,” the pope added. “This requires fidelity, even in difficulties, it requires respect, honesty, simplicity. It requires being open to confrontation … when it is necessary, but also to be always ready to forgive and to be reconciled to the other.”
At the end of his Gospel reflection, Pope Francis asked the Virgin Mary to intercede for Christian spouses, noting the upcoming feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
An appeal for peace in the Holy Land
Pope Francis noted that he will soon go to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to pray the rosary for peace on the vigil of the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
“Tomorrow marks one year since the terror attack on the population in Israel, to whom I once again express my closeness. Let us not forget that there are still many hostages in Gaza. I ask for them to be released immediately,” Pope Francis said.
“Since that day, the Middle East has been plunged into a condition marked by increasing suffering, with destructive military actions continuing to strike the Palestinian people. The people are suffering very much in Gaza and in other territories. Most of them are innocent civilians, all of them are people who must receive all necessary humanitarian aid. I call for an immediate cease-fire on all fronts, including Lebanon. Let us pray for the Lebanese, especially for those who live in the south, who are forced to leave their villages,” he added.
Appealing to the international community to stop “the spiral of revenge” and to prevent attacks “like the one recently carried out by Iran,” Pope Francis underlined the right of all nationals to exist in peace and security.
“Let us unite with the power of good against the diabolical plots of war,” the pope said.
Pilgrims gather in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ Angelus reflection on Oct. 6, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media
21 new cardinals announced
At the end of his Angelus address, Pope Francis surprised the crowd by announcing that he plans to create 21 new cardinals, including the archbishops of Tehran, Tokyo, and Toronto, in a consistory on Dec. 8.
The pope noted that the cardinals-elect reflect “the universality of the Church that continues to announce God’s merciful love to all people.”
“Let us pray for the new cardinals, that in confirming their commitment to Christ, the merciful and faithful high priest, they may assist me in my ministry as the bishop of Rome for the good of the holy people of God.”
Pope Francis kisses the flag of Lebanon at his general audience on Sept. 2, 2020. / Vatican Media.
Vatican City, Aug 5, 2021 / 07:30 am (CNA).
A Vatican official urged international donors on Wednesday to give the people of Lebanon a chance to c… […]
2 Comments
Francis’ Vatican nativity displays have generally aroused opposition for artistic expression in conflict with orthodox Catholic truth, goodness, and beauty. This has ranged from the homoerotic to space-age-Lego-style statues or figurines. The 2021 display featured not camels but llamas, draped in the Peruvian flag. The wise men carried gifts of quinoa and potatoes. Such a focus on animals, foods and flag specific to one nation sufficiently negates the universal Church and excludes the truth of the Nativity as told by Scripture.
This year’s Nativity features Mary and Joseph as royalty dressed in sparkling gold leaf and wearing large, elaborate crowns of gold. This is contrary to the material poverty of the Holy Family as implied in scripture. Also curious is the shielding of eyes by an angel. Is this because the Infant Jesus appears so bright as to dazzle one and cause an angel to hide his eyes; this, despite Jesus describing angels as witnessing the sight of God’s beatific face in heaven. Finally, we have the dumb and non-reasoning sheep who stretch and strain their necks to look up to see Him.
Would that the Vatican Nativity selection team under Francis could learn from such sheep.
Francis’ Vatican nativity displays have generally aroused opposition for artistic expression in conflict with orthodox Catholic truth, goodness, and beauty. This has ranged from the homoerotic to space-age-Lego-style statues or figurines. The 2021 display featured not camels but llamas, draped in the Peruvian flag. The wise men carried gifts of quinoa and potatoes. Such a focus on animals, foods and flag specific to one nation sufficiently negates the universal Church and excludes the truth of the Nativity as told by Scripture.
This year’s Nativity features Mary and Joseph as royalty dressed in sparkling gold leaf and wearing large, elaborate crowns of gold. This is contrary to the material poverty of the Holy Family as implied in scripture. Also curious is the shielding of eyes by an angel. Is this because the Infant Jesus appears so bright as to dazzle one and cause an angel to hide his eyes; this, despite Jesus describing angels as witnessing the sight of God’s beatific face in heaven. Finally, we have the dumb and non-reasoning sheep who stretch and strain their necks to look up to see Him.
Would that the Vatican Nativity selection team under Francis could learn from such sheep.
Small is beautiful. It has the potential to be great. Even sky may not be the limit. Maranatha – Come O Lord.