At the end of Wednesday’s general audience, as is customary, the Pope had a special greeting for newlyweds, the sick and young people.
His reflections centered on the day’s feast of the Holy Innocents.
He described newlyweds as “courageous,” saying, “it takes courage to get married and to do so for all your life: well done!”
He urged them to be constant in “love and devotion beyond every sacrifice,” and, repeating one of his most common exhortations for married couples, he said they should never “end the day without making peace.”
“May the innocent martyr saints, whom we remember today, help us all to be strong in faith, looking at the Divine Child, Who in the mystery of Christmas offers Himself for all humanity,” he said.
The Holy Father encouraged youth to learn from Christ’s example of obedience.
“Dear young people,” he said, “may you too know how to grow like Him: obedient to your parents and ready to understand and follow the will of the Father in heaven.”
Finally, for those suffering illnesses, the Pope voiced his hopes that they would find meaning in what they must endure: “Dear sick people, I hope that you will see, in the bright light of Bethlehem, the meaning of your suffering.”
