Christmas message 2024: A call to peace and humanity!

Christmas message 2024: A call to peace and humanity!

In a powerful Christmas address, Speyer Bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann emphasized that the message of Christmas in a world that is often shaped by violence is how an "antidote" looks. In the middle of his sermon on Christmas Eve in the Speyer Cathedral, he expressed "silent fore -powerful anger and a silent pain" in view of the tragic events in Magdeburg. The gracious silence for Christmas invites you to real understanding and dialogue, says Wiesemann. "These moments are soothing," he said, recalling that "the real peace in silence is growing" and we urgently need a respectful dialogue in our society in order to counteract the burgeoning fascism, as he continued. Bishop Wiesemann explains that Christmas should be understood as a time of reflection on sympathy and solidarity that stimulates us to think about our humanity. These are not just empty words, but a call for action.

hope and courage from the Christmas messages

The German bishops come together on Christmas Eve for hope and courage. The Berlin archbishop Heiner Koch emphasized that the joy of Christmas does not consist of human illusions, but of the actual love of God, which is shown in the violent form of a child. This divine love carries all good deeds and gives in difficult times. The Dresden bishop Heinrich Timmerevers appealed to the believers that Christmas reminds us that love has the strength to change situations. He wants reversal and reconciliation, especially in view of the violence in Ukraine and the Middle East. In the Christmas season we should be brave and surprise others with small gestures, because even the most inconspicuous actions can cause major changes.

These messages are also reflected in the work of other bishops. The Magdeburg bishop Gerhard Feige emphasized that peace does not come on its own, but requires our active participation. Not only are good intentions in demand, but also the courage to stand against evil and to defend the dignity of man. A heart full of compassion and strength is required to bring about real changes, as is also discussed in the days of the festival itself. The common Christmas speeches of the bishops clarify that in times of the crises the hope of peace and mutual understanding shines like a light beam in the dark. These strong words and their brave appeals offer a perspective of confidence in a challenging world.

For more detailed insights into the Christmas messages, you can report the reporting of n-tv and katholisch.de