In December, Pope Francis made his third trip of the year. A five-day visit to Cyprus and Greece.
POPE FRANCIS
'It is a nice trip, but we will touch wounds.'
Symbolically, his first meeting in Cyprus was in a church on the line separating Cyprus from the area occupied by Turkish troops controlled by the UN.
The next day Pope Francis met with migrants along the wall dividing the island. Proportionally, more migrants come to Cyprus than any other country in Europe. They enter the country through the area controlled by Turkey.
There, the Pope condemned human trafficking and the fact that in countries like Libya they are captured and treated like slaves.
POPE FRANCIS
'But brothers and sisters, it's happening today, on neighboring shores, bridges of slavery.'
There, too, Pope Francis was able to see the wall that divides the country.
The Pope began his visit to Greece recalling that Athens is the cradle of European culture and the birthplace of democracy.
For this reason, he denounced the situation in Europe, which he said is threatened by populism and authoritarianism.
POPE FRANCIS
'Prey to forms of nationalistic self-interest, rather than being an engine of solidarity, it appears at times blocked and uncoordinated.'
The most relevant religious meeting was with the leader of the Orthodox Church of Greece, which is one of the most hostile to Rome. Although Archbishop Hieronymus was very cordial.
-'Did the trip go well?'
-'Yes.'
Pope Francis lamented the division between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, and asked for forgiveness for the mistakes of many Catholics.
POPE FRANCIS
'I feel the need to ask anew for the forgiveness of God and of our brothers and sisters for the mistakes committed by many Catholics.'
In Greece, the Pope returned to the island of Lesbos, a few kilometers from the Turkish coast. Thousands of people fleeing from war have been arriving there and asking Europe for help. In refugee camps like these, they wait for months or years in a kind of bureaucratic limbo.
The Pope went to encourage them one by one.
-'I love you!'
-'Where do you come from?'
-'From Afghanistan.'
-'Afghanistan?'
Pope Francis in Lesbos asked to set aside ideologies to face this humanitarian problem.
POPE FRANCIS
'It is sad to hear that one of the solutions being proposed is to use EU funds to build walls or barbed wire fences. We are in the age of walls and barbed wire fences.'
As restrictions were increased in Rome due to the pandemic, the Pope moved his traditional visit to the statue of Our Lady in Piazza di Spagna to 6:15 in the morning. There are no crowds at that time.
December was an important month for Pope Francis, as he celebrated his 85th birthday, although there was no official celebration.
Christmas on the other hand, was celebrated. The tree is a 113-year-old red fir. It's 90 feet tall and weighs eight tons.
The Nativity scene comes from Huancavelica, Peru and represents a region in the Andes. Instead of the usual camels accompanying the magi, there are llamas. And the condor is also featured.
Its lights illuminate Christmas in St. Peter's Square, a beacon for the world.
JMB
JM/CT
