Christmas 2024: Hope and Peace in the shadow of the crises

Christmas 2024: Hope and Peace in the shadow of the crises

on December 25, 2024, the festival of the birth of Christ, Austria's bishops in their Christmas sermons emphasized the central role of hope in today's world. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn emphasized the importance of Christmas as a reason for joy and gratitude in his speech in the St. St. St. St. St. Stephen's Cathedral. Despite the challenges that the world currently experiences, the Incarnation of God is a deep signal of hope. He asked the important question: "Is Jesus for me and everything?" And asked the believers to actively live the message of peace and salvation. These thoughts were also underlined by Archbishop Franz Lackner, who found in Salzburg that peace had to begin in the hearts of people, in view of the dissatisfaction and need in the world.

call for hope for hope

The Eisenstadt Bishop Aegidius Zsifkovics described the Holy Year 2025 as an opportunity for internal renewal and as a way to become pilgrims of hope. In his sermon, he called on to sharpen his eyes and also look for a turn to God in politics and society. Bishop Hermann Glettler also highly discussed the hope of Bishop Hermann Glettler. He recalled that the message "Don't be afraid!" In the midst of war and conflicts, and that God's comforting presence is a source of strength.

In line with these words, the Mainz Bishop Peter Kohlgraf reported the urgent need to spread hope and not to succumb to discouragement. His call to the believers: to act as role models to inspire others. He emphasized that hope is a driving force for peace: "Whoever hopes does not start wars." The messages of the bishops illustrate the need for a solidarity community that is committed to peace and justice in a world of change and illustrate that time is ripe to actively live this hope to bring about a positive change, as well as Bistumlimburg.de reported.

The speeches on the Christmas Day not only represent a look back at the importance of Christmas, but are also an urgent appeal that the source of hope in the Christian message remains alive and must be passed on in the community, in the church and society.