25 December. Christmas Day. Love, peace, joy. Read, reflect, share, pray.  Grandad Joseph continued the story of the Peace Pilgrim Children and their Pilgrimage of Hope which had brought them to Bethlehem. “While the adults and family members looked on, the children did praise God, sing and dance through the night, as the well-known story was acted out.  They were the angels, messengers from God, who had come with a message of goodwill and peace on earth.  They were the shepherds, work-men and women, and soldiers -, workers who had put down their weapons and tools to join in a moment of hope and joyful celebration. Children had come from Christian countries and from Africa and the East, from Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist families who all shared their gift, a dream of peace and unity.  The gift the Peace Pilgrims of the world brought was the gift of their simplicity, their need for love, harmony, for peace and joy in their homes and in the world, their common home. 

Scripture & Pope Francis: “A little child will lead them.” All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing out your praise. From Dilexit Nos 218:  Christ’s love can give a heart to our world and revive love wherever we think that the ability to love has been lost forever. Pope Leo’s new message inDilexi Te  brings us the words of Jesus “I have loved you” with a special focus  on all those who are poor, unloved and hurting, whom we are called to love in Jesus’ name,”unarmed and disarming” Message for World Day of Peace 1 January 2026.