Pope Francis: Hope as light in dark times!

Pope Francis: Hope as light in dark times!

Pope Francis has urgently called for hope and emphasized how important it is in today's time of crisis. In his peace message published on December 3, 2024, he warned that people who lose themselves in worries about their existence quickly fall into resignation. “If you don't know whether you will be able to feed your children tomorrow, you become discouraged,” the Pope said. At the same time, he recalled that Christian hope is a gift from God that brings joy into our lives and can help people to remain steadfast in difficult times, such as kathpress.at reported.

In the context of the upcoming Holy Year 2025, which has the motto “Pilgrims of Hope,” the Pope called on the faithful to cast the “anchor of hope.” This year, celebrated from December 24th, offers the opportunity to encounter Christ and thus an opportunity to reconsider and celebrate one's own life. He responded to the challenges in the world, which he described as “World War III in pieces,” by calling on Christians to actively spread hope instead of falling into cynicism. Hope is not just a feeling, but an active task for every believer, as Pope Francis explained in his foreword to a new book dealing with the theme of hope vaticannews.va.

Gifts of hope

Francis also shared personal stories of hope in his speeches, such as those of two fathers, an Israeli and a Palestinian, who both lost their daughters in the conflict. Despite their pain, they have formed a brotherhood that stands as a strong symbol against hatred. Their friendship teaches that reconciliation and forgiveness must take precedence over conflict. “Hope opens us to unimaginable horizons,” the Pope concluded, encouraging people to see hope as a light in dark times.