In the first angelus of 2025, Pope Francis thinks of the mothers who lost their children to war

Pope Francis denounced this Wednesday the cruelty of war, which also breaks the hearts of mothers whose children have been victims of hatred and violence.

The Holy Father addressed a few words to mothers in his words prior to praying the Angelus on the occasion of the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and the 58th World Day of Peace.

“Mothers! Mothers always have their children in their hearts. Today, on this first day of the year, dedicated to peace, let us think of all the mothers who are happy at heart, and of all the mothers who have their hearts full of suffering, because their children have been taken away by violence, by arrogance, because of hatred. How beautiful is peace! And how inhumane is war, which destroys the hearts of mothers!” he expressed.

Before the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Francis reflected on the day’s gospel, which narrates the arrival of the shepherds to the Bethlehem grotto to see the newborn Baby Jesus.

“This meeting fills everyone with amazement, because the shepherds ‘made known what they had been told about this child’: the newborn is the ‘savior’, the ‘Messiah’, the ‘Lord,’” he explained.

In that sense, the Pontiff invited us to reflect “on what the shepherds saw in Bethlehem, that is, the Child Jesus, and also on what they did not see, that is, the heart of Mary, who guarded and meditated on all these things.” .

“First of all, the Baby Jesus: this Hebrew name means ‘God saves’, and this is precisely what he will do. Indeed, the Lord came into the world to give us his own life. Let’s think about this: all men are children, but none of us has chosen to be born. Instead, God has chosen to be born for us. God has chosen. “Jesus is the revelation of his eternal love, which brings peace to the world,” he stated.

Pope Francis explained that “the heart of Mary, the Virgin Mother, corresponds to the newborn Messiah, who manifests the mercy of the Father. This heart is the ear that heard the announcement of the Archangel; This heart is the hand of the wife given to Joseph; This heart is the hug that enveloped Isabel in her old age. In the heart of Mary, our Mother, hope beats; “hope for the redemption and salvation of every creature beats.”

“In the light of these reflections,” said Pope Francis, “each of us can ask ourselves: Do I know how to remain silent to contemplate the birth of Jesus?” And do I try to keep in my heart this Advent, its message of goodness and salvation? And how can I respond to such a great gift with a free gesture of peace, forgiveness, reconciliation? Each of us will find something to do, and this will do us good.”

“May Mary, the Holy Mother of God, teach us to keep in our hearts the joy of the Gospel and to witness to it in the world.”

Following the recitation of the Marian prayer, Pope Francis referred to the World Day of Peace, which takes place every January 1, to thank “all the initiatives of prayer and commitment to peace promoted throughout the world by the diocesan and parish communities, by associations, by ecclesial movements and groups.”

“I express my recognition and gratitude to all those who in the numerous conflict zones work for dialogue and negotiation. Let us pray for an cessation of fighting on all fronts and a determined effort for peace and reconciliation. I think of the tormented Ukraine, of Gaza, of Israel, of Myanmar, of Kivu and of so many peoples at war,” he added.

“Brothers, sisters, war destroys, it always destroys! War is always a defeat, always,” he exclaimed.