To all the peoples of the world

• especially to all who find themselves in conditions of poverty, oppression, physical or moral sufferings;
• to all sisters and brothers in the faith;
• to all who believe in God;
• to all persons of "good will,"

May Jesus be received by all as One whereby God and man are united as one person. (This affirmation contains all of the meanings of the event that we Christians celebrate and contemplate during the Solemnity of Christmas).

May He be received by all as a sign of God's infinite love nurtured in each human being.

May the remembrance of Jesus' birth bring about a rebirth in each heart and in each mind of the awareness of the dignity of each human being, of their inestimable value which he possesses through God.

We sons of St. Francis of Assisi in the Holy Land, custodians of this Holy Site, invite everyone to unite themselves with our prayer towards a respect and dignity for each human being: for justice and for true peace. We invite all of you to unite yourselves with us to the song chanted by the angels at the manger: Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to all whom He loves.

We pray that the Christ Child will help us to understand that God is against every form of egoism, racism, division, exploitation, violence and vengeance.

May the Child Jesus teach us that if we become like wolves, we will be defeated because we will be deprived of the help of the shepherd. He is a shepherd of lambs and not of wolves.

We wish you a Blessed Christmas of peace and brotherhood from the bottom of our hearts.

Fr. Giuseppe Nazzaro OFM
Custos of the Holy Land