ETHIOPIA: That Christ’s Birth Brings Healing, Enduring Peace: Says Cardinal Berhaneyesus As Ethiopia Celebrates Christmas
Bezawit Assefa
The Ethiopian Catholic Church has celebrated the Nativity of Jesus Christ on January 7, 2025, according to the Ethiopian calendar.
In his pastoral message for the occasion, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia, extended warm wishes for a joyful and peaceful Christmas to the faithful in Ethiopia and the diaspora.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus’ message reflects on the profound significance of Christ’s birth, emphasizing it as the incarnation of God’s love and redemption for humanity.
The Cardinal highlighted the profound significance of Christ’s birth, not merely as a historical event but as a transformative moment that calls faithful to reflect on Christ’s teachings, life, and boundless love. He urged the faithful to embrace Christ’s message in their daily lives, bridging the gap between celebration and practice, and to find true joy and meaning through dependence on God, as exemplified by the humility of the Nativity.
“The Nativity of Christ invites us to align our lives with God’s message and find joy and meaning through humble dependence on Him,” Cardinal Berhaneyesus said. Highlighting the humility of Christ’s birth in a manger, he encouraged the faithful to recognize their reliance on God, fostering spiritual growth and a deeper connection to their faith.
The message underscored the importance of peace, justice, and compassion, urging society to reject selfishness, materialism, and division. Cardinal Berhaneyesus also called for prayers for those enduring hardship, including young people displaced in Myanmar, individuals living with HIV, and others facing distress. He emphasized the Church’s commitment to combining spiritual and scientific approaches to address challenges.
Concluding, the Cardinal called on all to live with faith, hope, and love, praying for an end to suffering and division. He wished for the light of Christ’s birth to bring healing, harmony, and enduring peace to Ethiopia and the world.
