Pope Ahead of Epiphany: 'We Like the Magi Must Look Up, So We Can See The Star'

Also Thanks Circus Performers, Beauty Always Brings Us Closer to God

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Ahead of the Epiphany, Pope Francis says that like the Magi, we must look to the sky. Only in this way, will we be able to see the Star…
Pope Francis stressed this in his greetings to Italian pilgrims during today’s General Audience, Jan. 2, 2019, his first audience of the New Year, just days before the Epiphany this Sunday, January 6.
In the same Italian greetings, Francis reminded that beauty always brings us closer to God, as he thanked the Cuban Circus who performed for him. Even Pope Francis ‘spun’ a soccer ball on his finger.
“You engage in beauty and beauty always brings us close to God,” Francis said, adding: “I thank you for this.”
“They, with their performance, bring beauty; a beauty that requires so much effort – we have seen it -, so much training, so much to go on … But beauty always elevates the heart.”
“Beauty makes us better, everyone; beauty leads us to goodness, it also leads us to God. Thank you so much and continue like this, offering beauty to the whole world. Thank you!”
Acknowledging January 6, 2019, marks the Epiphany, Francis said: “Like the Magi, we also raise our gaze to the heavens; only in this way, will we be able to see the star that invites us to walk the paths of goodness.”
“Happy New Year to all!”

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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