Cambodia

"The Shadow" which covers the Virgin is the silence in which her relationship with God grows. This guarantees fruitfulness and hope, even in the darkest moments . The silence of Mary at the foot of the Cross.

In China, the demand for chocolate confectionery has double in the past ten years. In the Asia-Pacific region, sales are expected to rise 5 per cent annually. Confectionery makers plan new plants in Indonesia and Malaysia.

There are so many positive things in Evangelii gaudium, its urging Christians and Muslims towards a relationship in love and truth, to work for peace, to enrich each other, to welcome immigrants ... But there are also some points that provoke criticism: is the "compassionate and merciful" God of the Muslims really the same as the Trinity? And are the Jesus and Mary in the Koran the same as the Gospels? And is Christian fundamentalism the same as Muslim fundamentalism? What is really urgent - as suggested by Francis – is "a proper reading of the Koran," which Muslims resist.

Francis speaks of the gospel of Elizabeth, who from a state of bareness became the mother of John the Baptist. The desert and bareness are rendered fruitful by His power. In these days before Christmas, have the humility to recognize our own misery and pray for the grace to bear fruit.

If "God lowers Himself, descends to earth small and poor, it means that to be like Him, we must not put ourselves above others, but rather lower ourselves, place ourselves at the service of others, make ourselves small with small and poor with the poor ."

“Family" atmosphere at the Mass celebrated by Francis on his 77th birthday. God "has made history. God chose to become history. He is with us. Has made the journey with us". "But what is the name of God? We are, each of us . He takes His surname from each of us. ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Pedro, of Marietta , Armony , Marisa , of Simon, of all! ' .

In the Gospel the "priests went to Jesus to ask for his stamp of authority: ' By what authority are you doing these things?' We are the masters of the Temple'". "They did not understand the prophecies. They had forgotten the promise! They did not know how to read the signs of the time, they had neither piercing eyes, nor hearing for the Word of God: they only had authority ."

Ahead of reciting the Angelus on the third Sunday of Advent, Francis reminds the faithful that " like hope, Christian joy is rooted in the faithfulness of God , knowing that He always keeps His promises." Immediately after the Marian prayer, the Pope blesses the "Baby Jesus" statues for the nativity scenes in the homes of the faithful and says: "When you pray in front of the nativity scene , remember me like I remember you."

Francis criticizes people like those who, in Christ’s time, took refuge in a more elaborate religion: in the moral precepts , like that group of Pharisees; in political compromise , like the Sadducees; in social revolution, like the zealots; in Gnostic spirituality, like the Essenes".

Like a father or a mother, God "becomes small" to be closer to us. We can hear what he says but also how he says it. We must do what the Lord does, do what he says and do it how he says, i.e. "with love, with tenderness, [and] with that condescension towards the brethren."

Francis’ message for the World Day of Peace. The foundation of the fraternity is the common fatherhood of God. The "Globalisation of indifference". The increasing number of interconnections and communications, "make us neighbors but not brothers." "International agreements and national laws , despite being highly desirable and necessary , are not sufficient by themselves to bring humanity to avoid the risk of armed conflict. This requires a conversion of heart which allows everyone to recognize themselves in their brother". "The succession of economic crises should lead to appropriate rethinking of models of economic development and a change in lifestyle". A "change of heart".

God "did not send his Son to condemn, but to save" and "he who believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned," and in this sense "the judgment has already begun". New appeal against hunger in the world. America, land of welcome, “a land capable of respecting human life at every stage".