Pope: We don’t know what 2021 holds, but we can take care of each other

Francis points out that Christians don't buy into fatalism or magic, but understand that we have to work together with God's help.

Pope Francis reminded us that we can’t know what 2021 holds in store, but we can take care of each other and the world God entrusted to us.

The Holy Father offered this reflection and encouragement after he prayed the midday Angelus on January 3.

In offering best wishes for the New Year, he said that “as Christians, we tend to shun the mentality of fatalism or magic; we know that things will improve to the extent that, with God’s held, we work together for the common good, placing the weakest and most disadvantaged at the center.”

“We do not know what 2021 holds for us,” he continued, “but what each one of us, and all of us together, can do is to take care of each other and of creation, our common home.”

The pope lamented the many choices that don’t take others into account.

He noted that we can always choose selfishly:

It is true, there is the temptation to take care only of our own interests, to continue to wage war, for example, concentrating only on the economic aspect, to live hedonistically, that is, seeking only to satisfy our own pleasure… there is that temptation. I read something in the newspapers that saddened me greatly: in one country, I forget which, more than 40 aircraft left, to enable people to flee from the lockdown and to enjoy the holidays. But those people, good people, did they not think about those who stayed at home, about the economic problems faced by many people who have been floored by the lockdown, about the sick? They thought only about taking a holiday for their own pleasure. This pained me greatly.

The pope also offered a special greeting to “those who begin the new year with greater difficulties,” and then made particular mention of families expecting a baby.

And with affection I wish to greet all families, especially those in which there are young children or which are expecting a birth. A birth is always a promise of hope. I am close to these families: May the Lord bless you!