From St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope denounces the “grave uncertainties that have dominated the world scene over the past year and are symptoms of a lack of commitment to the common good”.
In the Te Deum, the traditional end-of-year hymn of thanksgiving, pronounced in St. Peter’s, the Pope invited all inhabitants of “our city of Rome” to “overcome the difficulties of the present”. He expressed the hope that “a commitment to revive the fundamental values of service, honesty and solidarity may allow “the grave uncertainties that have dominated the world scene over the past year to be overcome, these being symptoms of a lack of commitment to the common good”.
“How meaningful it is to be gathered together to give praise to the Lord at the end of the year! The Church on so many occasions feels the joy and the duty of lifting up her song to God with these words of praise, which ever since the 4th century, have been an accompaniment to prayer during important moments of her earthly pilgrimage. The joy of thanksgiving emanates from our prayer almost spontaneously, in recognition of God’s loving presence in the events that take place during the course of our history. As is often the case though, we feel that in prayer, our voice alone is not enough. It needs to be reinforced with the accompaniment of God’s entire people, which expresses its thanks in unison. Hence, in the Te Deum we ask the Angels, the Prophets and all creation for their help in giving praise to the Lord. In this hymn, we retrace the history of salvation, which includes and encapsulates – as part of God’s mysterious plan – the various events that took place in our lives over the past year.”
“In particular, the final words of the hymn – “Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee” – have a special resonance during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. The company of mercy helps us to better understand our experiences and it gives us hope for the start of the new year.”
Looking back at the past year can either involve "recalling facts or events that rekindle memories of joy or pain, or seeking to understand whether we have felt the presence of God who is capable of renewing all and sustains us with his help. We are called to verify whether the world’s events went according to God’s will or whether we tended to give priority to human plans which often serve personal interests, an insatiable thirst for power and gratuitous violence. Today, however, our eyes need to focus on the particular signs God has given us, to see His merciful love first-hand. We cannot forget the many scenes of violence and death that marked the previous year, the untold suffering of many innocent people, the plight of refugees forced to leave their homes, of the homeless, and the hungry. And yet, how many acts of kindness, love, and solidarity filled the past year even if they weren’t on the news! Good news often goes unnoticed,” the Pope said speaking off the cuff, reiterating what he told young people attending the International Congress of Pueri Cantores this morning. “These signs of love cannot and must not be obscured by the arrogance of evil. Good always triumphs, even though at times it may seem weaker and hidden.”
“Our city of Rome,” the Pope said, without explicitly referring to the “mafia capital” label given to Rome or the complex political situation the city faces, “is no stranger to the condition the whole world finds itself in. I would like to sincerely invite all Rome’s inhabitants to overcome the difficulties of the present moment. May a commitment to reviving the fundamental values of service, honesty and solidarity allow the grave uncertainties that have dominated the world scene over the past year to be overcome, these being symptoms of a lack of commitment to the common good. May the positive contribution of the Christian witness never be lacking, so as to give Rome the opportunity to continue its history as privileged interpreter of faith, welcome, fraternity, and peace, with the maternal intercession of the Virgin Salus Populi Romani. ‘We praise you, O Lord. You are our hope. We shall not be confused for ever’.” After the Te Deum, the Pope paid a brief visit to the Nativity Scene in St. Peter’s Square.
