Millions of TV viewers watch Pone say Mass

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 3

Millions of TV viewers watch Pone say Mass

NZPA Vatican City Pope John Paul II celebrated Midnight Mass at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vati.an in front of more than >OOO faithful and several million television viewers in 27 countries of Western Europe and the Americas. Wearing a simple white; ichasuble and the white-wool; | pall with black crosses given: ito him the day of his en-; thronement the Pope said! Mass alone. “The hour of this wonder- ; ;fu! event has come again.; ;Let us remember that this; ; night is that of mystery, i ■even if one can find other; 'interpretations for the event' jin which the appearance ofj the glory of our great God; and Saviour took place,” he said. I After reading the Old Tes-i 'tament in Spanish and Eng-‘

lish, and the Gospel in; Latin, the Pontiff said in his homily: “This night is a special testimony of Divine love for Man.” The birth of Christ showed that in spite of the troubles that afflicted the (world, God was pleased with Iman, he said. The theme of his homily ;was in marked contrast to (last year’s ceremony, his 'first as Pope, when he emphasised the cruelty and (injustice which he said plagued mankind. Holy Communion was given by several hundreds priests picking their way ! through the dense crowd. In (and around the Basilica, a 'festive mood prevailed. The Pope said his second Christmas Mass in his private chapel before celebrat'ing a solemn High Mass and

i; delivering his Christmas ; message, "Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and th’ world), also ■‘at St Peter’s. At Bethlehem thousands ■; of pilgrims from all over the j: world celebrated Christmas i( after long hours of festi--1; vities culminating in Midnight Mass at the spot '(where Jesus was born 20 >. centuries ago. ;; Israeli troops watched the » events from roof-tops and I along the narrow streets - against any sabotage attempt, particularly by Paless tinian guerrillas. 5 The Latin Patriarch of Jet rusalem (Monsignor Giac--1 omo Beltritti) celebrated the a glittering Mass in St Catherine’s Church near the 1 Grotto of the Nativity, • where tradition says Mary - gave birth to Christ. I Some 800 dignitaries, dip-

lomats, town officials, and Israeli guests, packed the church while a crowd estimated at 10,000 watched the ceremony on a giant screen out in Manger Square. Bethlehem was closed to : all but tourists and local inhabitants for 36 hours as part of the precautionary measures. Everyone entering the town had to submit to a check by metal detectors. It was the thirteenth Christmas celebrated at Bethlehem since Israel occupied the We t Bank of the Jordan. The Mayor of Bethlehem (Mr Elias Freij) said he did not believe next year w'ould bring any significant change for the better for the Palestinians in the occupied territory. It was the first Christmas (since Egypt and Israel signed their peace treaty last March, the first such accord between the Jewish State and an Arab country. In the wake of another treaty the most hopeful pilgrims were a choir from Rhodesia, the first group from there allowed in Bethlehem in many years. They received permission (to perform only a few days (after a cease-fire agreement (was reached in London to 'end the Rhodesian war. ( Many of the Christians in (the Holy Land, members of (Eastern Rite churches, will (celebrate their Christmas in (two weeks. ' In Paris, several brief | demonstrations, including one in favour of the freedom of search in theology, preceded the celebration of Midnight Mass at NotreDame Cathedral.