Christmas Around the World
BROOKLYN— Sep. 25th -- NATO troops at Mass in Bosnia and OrthodoxChristians in the candlelit splendor of Istanbul’s cathedral keptthe flames of hope and peace burning on Christmas Day, while in thebirthplace of Jesus much of the season’s joy was lost in the sorrowof Israeli-Palestinian violence.
In Indonesia, after a spate of fatal church bombings onChristmas Eve, many Christians stayed away from services today for fear of renewed attacks. Although no one in the mostly Muslimnation claimed responsibility, President Abdurrahman Wahid blamedforces he said were intent on destabilizing the country.
The Catholic Church tried to ease the volatile situation after15 were killed and nearly 100 people were injured. “Even if weknow who is behind the bombings, I urge all Christians toforgive,” Indonesian Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja said today. Bittersweet BethlehemA weary Pope John Paul II was dismayed by the attacks inIndonesia, where, he said, “our brothers and sisters in faith,even on this Christmas Day, are undergoing a tragic time of trialand suffering.”
In his traditional Christmas Day message “Urbi et Orbi” (Latinfor “to the city and to the world”), the 80-year-old pontifflamented the “endless streams” of refugees from conflicts aroundthe world and spoke particularly of the Middle East, where“violence continues to stain with blood the difficult path topeace.”
In the nato town of Bethlehem, revered by Christians as thebirthplace of Jesus, the Christmas sprit of the past — and thetourism of the present — were subdued by the lingering animosity ofthree months of Palestinian-Israeli violence. At least 345 peoplehave been killed, most of them Palestinians.
The oppressive atmosphere was not lightened by Iraqi leaderSaddam Hussein, who called on Christians and Muslims around theworld to wage holy war against Israel. His message appeared on thefront page of every newspaper in Baghdad.
About 1,000 miles away, in Istanbul, a more joyous celebrationtook place. The leaders of 13 Orthodox Christian churches gatheredat the city’s Byzantine cathedral to observe Christmas together forthe first time in their history, as a culmination of festivitiesmarking the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s birth.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, in vestments of brocade andgold, led the two-hour service in ornate surroundings as throngs ofthe faithful crowded the aisles to film with video cameras.
Bartholomew said his church has shown its “concern for thenatural environment as well as for peaceful resolution amongpeoples, nations and various churches.”
Secular leaders, too, expressed their concerns and appealed tothe best in their citizens.
Politics Mix With Religion
Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf said he was disappointed by thefailure of the world climate talks last month in the Netherlands.
“This is worrying, especially considering that many scientists,already today, see more and more consequences of man’sirresponsible behavior with, for example, a poisoned environment,climate changes and degenerative illnesses as a result,” he said.
Queen Elizabeth II told a vast audience on television, radio andthe Internet that the teachings of Jesus were part of the frameworkof her own life, and said many others had been inspired by Jesus’simple but powerful teaching to “treat others as you would likethem to treat you.”
In a traditional Christmas Eve message, Belgium’s King Albert IIwarned his country against racism and xenophobia, issues that havegained attention since the electoral success three months ago of aFlemish nationalist party opposed to immigration.
The king also spoke of his recent visit to Belgian peacekeepingtroops in the Balkans, saying he was “horrified by the ravagescaused in our times and on our continent by extreme nationalism andxenophobia.”
King Albert also used his speech to pay homage to Belgianpeacekeepers in the Balkans.
For thousands of NATO troops in Bosnia, Christmas this yearmeant being far from their families.
Christmas trees and colored lights decorated the U.S. barracksEagle base in northern Bosnia. Near Mostar, southern Bosnia,soldiers from France, Spain, Italy and Portugal held a dinner,attended Mass and sang songs from all their nations.
At Camp Bondsteel in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo, members ofthe 4,500-strong U.S. contingent were missing their loved ones.
“I wish I was home for the holidays, but what can you do?”said 28-year-old Capt. Brook Maynelt of Illinois. “There’s a jobto be done.”