At an event viewing the Vatican Christmas Tree & Nativity Scene, Pope Leo XIV calls for end to antisemitic violence

 

Pope Leo XIV holds an audience in the Paul VI Hall with donors of the St. Peter's Square Christmas tree and Nativity scene 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• prayer
• antisemitism
• violence
• christmas
• jews
• terrorism
• abortion

Pope remembers victims of Sydney attack: ‘Enough with antisemitic violence!’

Speaking with the groups that donated this year’s Vatican Christmas Tree and Nativity Scene, Pope Leo highlights God’s closeness to humanity and calls for prayers for those who suffer on account of war and violence, especially the victims of Sunday’s terror attack on the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia.

By Christopher Wells

Nativity scenes and Christmas trees are “signs of faith and hope”, Pope Leo said on Monday, inviting the faithful as they contemplate them to “ask the Lord to renew within us the gift of peace and fraternity”.

The Holy Father went on to ask for prayers for all those suffering due to war and violence, especially victims of the terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Sydney on Sunday, whom he entrusted to the Lord.

“Enough with these forms of antisemitic violence!” Pope Leo said. “We must eliminate hatred from our hearts.”

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A mystery of humility and love

Pope Leo’s remarks came during an encounter with representatives of the communities that donated the Christmas Tree and Nativity Scene for Saint Peter’s Square, and the Nativity Scene set up in the Paul VI Hall, where Monday’s audience took place.

The Nativity Scene in St Peter’s Square – from the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno outside of Naples – will remind pilgrims from around the world “that God draws near to humanity, becomes one of us, enters into our history with the smallness of a child,” the Pope said.

He recalled that “in the poverty of the stable in Bethlehem, we contemplate a mystery of humility and love” that invites us to “rediscover ourselves and enter into communion with God.”

A sign of life and hope

Greeting representatives of the “beautiful land” of Bolzano in northern Italy, who donated the 25-meter Norway spruce that stands next to the Creche in St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo recalled that the Christmas tree “is a sign of life and evokes the hope that never fails, even in the cold of winter.”

At the same time, the lights on the tree symbolize Jesus Christ, “the light of the world, Who came to dispel the darkness of sin and illuminate our path.”

The Pope noted that other trees destined for use throughout the Vatican have come from the same region of South Tyrol.

An appeal to protect life from conception

Pope Leo went on to thank representatives of Costa Rica for the donation of the Nativity Scene for the Paul VI Hall, the creation of a Costa Rican artist entitled “Nacimiento Gaudium,” the birth of joy.

The scene is adorned with 28,000 ribbons, each representing a life saved from abortion thanks to the prayers and support of Catholic organizations offered to mothers in need.

The Pope thanked the artist for adding to the Christmas message of peace an appeal for the protection of life from the moment of conception.

May the tenderness of the Christ Child illuminate our lives

Finally, Pope Leo expressed his gratitude to Vatican workers for their generous commitment in decorating the spaces in and around the Vatican for the Christmas seasons.

Concluding his greetings, the Holy Father invited everyone “to allow the tenderness of Baby Jesus to illuminate our lives” and “to allow the love of God, like the branches of an evergreen tree, to remain vibrant within us.”

In Syria, Christians and others protest the burning of a Christmas tree

 

Protests in Syria over Christmas tree burning

Protesters chanted as they marched through Damascus

Lina Sinjab & Jacqueline Howard

BBC News, Damascus and London

Protests have broken out in Syria over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting calls for the new Islamist authorities to take steps to protect minorities.

A video posted on social media showed the tree on fire in the main square of Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main Islamist faction which led the uprising that toppled President Bashar al-Assad, said foreign fighters had been detained over the incident.

HTS representatives have promised to protect the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.

Footage on social media appeared to show masked men dousing the Christmas tree with an unidentified liquid the night before Christians in Syria prepared to celebrate Christmas Eve. It was unclear whether they were trying to put the fire out or help it spread.

Videos of the aftermath showed a religious figure from the governing HTS rebel group assuring crowds who had gathered in Suqaylabiyah that the tree would be repaired before the morning.

The man then held up a cross in a show of solidarity, something Islamist conservatives would not normally do.

On Tuesday more protesters took to the streets over the arson attack, including in parts of the capital Damascus.

Some in the Kassa neighbourhood of Damascus chanted against foreign fighters in Syria.

"Syria is free, non Syrians should leave," they said, in reference to the foreign fighters HTS said were behind the attack.

In the Bab Touma neighbourhood of Damascus, protesters carried a cross and Syrian flags, chanting "we will sacrifice our souls for our cross".

"If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore," a demonstrator named Georges told AFP news agency.

Syria is home to many ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia and Arab Sunnis, the last of whom make up a majority of the Muslim population.

Just over two weeks ago, Bashar al-Assad's presidency fell to rebel forces, ending the Assad family's more than 50-year-rule.

Since then many displaced Syrians have begun heading back to their homes - on Tuesday, Turkey said more than 25,000 Syrians had returned to the country.

However it remains to be seen how the HTS group will govern Syria.

HTS began as a jihadist group - espousing violence to achieve its goal of establishing a state governed by Islamic law (Sharia) - but in recent years adopted a more pragmatic, less uncompromising approach.

As fighters marched to Damascus earlier this month, its leaders spoke about building a Syria for all Syrians.

On Tuesday the new authorities announced that leader Ahmed al-Sharaa had reached an agreement with "revolutionary factions... to dissolve all factions and merge them under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defence", according to Sana news agency.

Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said the ministry would be restructured to include rebel fighters.

Although the statement mentioned "all factions", it was not clear exactly which groups are included in the merger.

There are multiple armed groups in Syria, including some opposed to HTS and others with ambiguous relationships with it at best.

HTS remains designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN, US, EU and UK, though there are signs that a diplomatic shift may be under way.

On Friday, the US scrapped a $10m (£7.9m) bounty on the head of HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, following meetings between senior diplomats and representatives from the group.

The US is continuing its military presence in Syria. It said on Friday that it carried out an air strike in the northern city of Deir Ezzor - killing two members of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.

The presence of foreign fighters, Islamist extremists, or even regime supporters who have interest in causing insecurity and attacking minorities to shake the country's stability are the big challenge that the new Islamic leadership will face.