"Jesus was born during a 'census of the whole world' ordered by Caesar
Augustus, the emperor renowned for bringing the Pax Romana to all the lands
under Roman rule. Yet this infant, born in an obscure and far-flung corner of
the empire, was to offer the world a far greater peace, truly universal in
scope and transcending all limitations of space and time.
"Jesus is presented to us as King David’s heir, but the liberation he brought to his
people was not about holding hostile armies at bay; it was about conquering sin
and death forever.
"The birth of Christ challenges us to reassess our priorities, our values, our very way of life. While Christmas is undoubtedly a time of great joy, it is also an occasion for deep reflection, even an examination of conscience...
"Christmas can be the time in which we learn to read the Gospel, to get to know Jesus not
only as the child in the manger, but as the one in whom we recognize God
made man. It is in the Gospel that Christians find inspiration for their daily
lives and their involvement in worldly affairs – be it in the Houses of
Parliament or the stock exchange....
"In Italy, many crib scenes feature the ruins of ancient Roman buildings in the
background. This shows that the birth of the child Jesus marks the end of the
old order, the pagan world, in which Caesar’s claims went virtually
unchallenged. Now there is a new king, who relies not on the force of arms, but
on the power of love.
"He brings hope to all those who, like himself, live on the margins of society. He
brings hope to all who are vulnerable to the changing fortunes of a precarious
world. From the manger, Christ calls us to live as citizens of his heavenly
kingdom, a kingdom that all people of goodwill can help to build here on earth."
--Pope Benedict XVI, Financial Times, December 20, 2012
"Piety and charity, mercy and abandonment: these are the virtues of the man from
Nazareth that today’s liturgy shows us, so that they may accompany us in these
last days of Advent, towards Christmas. These are important attitudes that
educate the heart to encounter Christ and our brothers and sisters. They can
also help us to be, for one another, a welcoming manger, a hospitable home, a
sign of God’s presence."
--Pope Leo XIV, Angelus Address, December 21, 2025
"In Mary of Nazareth, we recognize our own history: the history of the Church,
immersed in the common lot of humanity. By taking flesh in her, the God of life
— the God of freedom — has conquered death. Yes, today we contemplate how God
overcomes death — yet never without us. His is the Kingdom, but ours is the
“yes” to his love that can change everything. On the Cross, Jesus freely uttered
that “yes” which would strip death of its power — the death that still spreads
wherever our hands crucify and our hearts remain imprisoned by fear and
mistrust. On the Cross, trust prevailed; so did love, which sees what is yet to
come; and forgiveness triumphed. Mary was there, united with her Son. In our
day, we are like Mary whenever we do not flee, whenever we make Jesus’ “yes”
our own. That “yes” still lives and resists death in the martyrs of our time,
in witnesses of faith and justice, of gentleness and peace."
--Pope Leo XIV, Homily, August 15, 2025
"In these four weeks of Advent, the liturgy leads us to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, while it reminds us that
He comes every day in our life, and will return gloriously at the end of time.
This certainty induces us to look with confidence at the future, as the prophet
Isaiah invites us to do, who with his inspired voice accompanies the whole
Advent journey... The Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem is presented as the point of convergence and of encounter of all
peoples. After the Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus revealed
Himself as the true Temple. Therefore, Isaiah’s wonderful vision is a divine
promise and drives us to assume an attitude of pilgrimage, of walking towards
Christ... Advent is the propitious time to welcome the coming of
Jesus, who comes as Messenger of peace to point out to us God’s ways."
--Pope Francis, Angelus Address, December 1, 2019
