HOT: » Which party would you vote for (if you could) in the upcoming snap vote in Bulgaria on April 19?
Send to Kindle
Pope Benedict XVI said he prayed for the sick and elderly and "those who are going through any form of hardship". Photo by EPA/BGNES
God is faithful to his promises but often surprises us by how he fulfills them, Pope Benedict said in his first BBC radio broadcast.
The Pope's Christmas message for the UK was broadcast as the Thought for the Day on Radio 4's Today program, BBC reports Friday.
It was the first time that the Pontiff has addressed a Christmas message especially for one of the countries he has visited during the year but the British National Secular Society criticized the BBC's decision to broadcast it.
In his message, the Pope recalled his recent UK visit with "great fondness" and said he was glad to greet listeners again.
Benedict said he prayed for the sick and elderly and "those who are going through any form of hardship".
"Dear friends from Scotland, England and Wales and indeed every part of the English speaking world, I want you to know that I keep all of you very much in my prayers during this holy season. I am glad to have the opportunity to greet you again, and indeed to greet listeners everywhere as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. I pray for your families, for your children, for those who are sick, and for those who are going through any form of hardship at this time. At the Christmas season our thoughts recall a moment in history when the Israelites were waiting for the Messiah whom they pictured as a great leader who would restore their freedom," Pope Benedict said.
"The child that was born in Bethlehem did indeed bring liberation, but not only for the people of that time and place - he was to be the savior of all people throughout the world and throughout history. It was not a political liberation, achieved through military means, he added, but rather "Christ destroyed death for ever and restored life by means of his shameful death on the cross," the Pope went on.
Benedict urged people to ask Jesus Christ to expel any darkness they have in their lives and added: "Let us give thanks to God for his goodness to us, and let us joyfully proclaim to those around us the good news that God offers us freedom from whatever weighs us down; he gives us hope, he brings us life."
Negotiations between the BBC and the Vatican went on for many months to enable the recording to take place, BBC informs.
Two senior executives at the BBC have stepped down amid a growing controversy over impartiality and alleged manipulation of footage involving US President Donald Trump
Two Bulgarian women who were involved in a Russian spy network operating from the UK have been identified for the first time through a BBC investigation
In Bulgaria, the Orthodox Church honors the Assumption of the Holy Virgin with solemn services
Today, the Orthodox world observes the great feast of the Lord - the Ascension of Christ
Bulgaria's Orthodox Church celebrates the Annunciation with solemn services
The BBC's popular sports show Match of the Day, which airs on Saturday, will be without presenters and pundits in the studio tonight
NEW POLL: HUNGARIANS UNITED ON NEED FOR A ‘DIFFERENT’ RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EU, BUT DIVERGENCES REMAIN ON UKRAINE
The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an “Easter ceasefire” in the war in Ukraine, declaring a temporary halt in hostilities lasting around 36 hours
A group of Members of the European Parliament has raised concerns over the potential leakage of confidential EU information to Russia, urging stronger safeguards within the European Parliament
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has formally enacted legislation withdrawing the country from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), marking a decisive step in Chisinau’s gradual disengagement from Russian-led structures
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has carried out a series of coordinated investigative actions across several countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, as part of a probe into suspected large-scale fraud involving EU funds
A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has coincided with escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has moved to tighten control over one of the world’s most critical maritime routes
Aniventure Comic Con Returns to Bulgaria with Star Guest Christopher Judge!
Global Fuel Shock: Oil Jumps Over 40% Since Iran War Began
