Spiritual leaders commemorate Christ’s birth with messages of peace. Around 100,000 people this year visited Bethlehem, Palestine, the town where Jesus was born, twice the number from last year, and the highest in a decade. On December 25, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI delivered his traditional Christmas Day address in the Vatican City, where he prayed for the promise of peace to become a reality across all regions of the globe. Quoting from the Biblical Book of Isaiah, he stated: “Fulfill the prophecy that ‘of peace there will be no end.’” Joining in the call for harmonious relations among humankind was Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, who also spoke of Israeli-Palestinian peace as he said, “…The Child of Bethlehem reminds us that the first commandment is Love. He teaches us forgiveness and reconciliation, even with our enemies.” In addition, His Beatitude said prayers for Chaldean Christians in Iraq, who celebrated Christmas as well.

We appreciate these uplifting reminders, Your Holiness and Your Beatitude, and we join in such noble prayers of peace. May we find brotherly love with one another across the globe during the Christmas season and always, through the unifying grace of the Divine.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/359646,prays-peace-summary.html
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http://www.france24.com/en/20101224-holy-land-patriarch-issues-christmas-peace-message
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