Peace, not power or force, stands at the heart of Christmas, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon said in his Christmas message, urging nations and individuals to reject violence, fear, and the accumulation of weapons.
“‘Peace be with you’ is a greeting shared by people of every nation and faith for thousands of years,” the cardinal said in his Dec. 23 message, presenting peace as the central meaning of Christ’s birth.
Reflecting on the Nativity, the prelate said God entered human history through humility rather than dominance.
“God chose to enter human history as a fragile child—without power, without protection, without worldly attraction,” he said, describing the birth of Jesus as a revelation of vulnerability that calls people toward peace.
The cardinal linked Christmas to Jesus’ lifelong rejection of violence, citing Christ’s words to his disciples before his arrest: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”
He also recalled the moment when Jesus stopped armed resistance during his arrest. “Put your sword back into its sheath,” Bo quoted, describing the Gospel episode as a defining sign of Christian peace.
“The peace of the Risen Christ is peace without weapons,” he said, adding that Jesus brought “political and social transformation without violence.” Christians, he said, are called “to witness this noble way and to invite all to reject cruelty.”
Placing the Christmas message in a global context, Bo warned that fear continues to shape international relations and military policy. “Everyone loves peace and longs for it. Yet in a world of growing uncertainty, fear increases,” he said. “People prepare for war in the name of peace.”
He pointed to rising global militarization, noting that “in 2024 alone, global military spending reached 2.718 trillion US dollars.” Such spending, he said, reflects relationships between nations “built not on law, justice, and trust, but on fear and domination.”
“As long as fear dominates, weapons will continue to multiply,” the cardinal said, calling on nations to choose “mutual respect and cooperation as the path to lasting peace.”
Bo echoed the Pope’s call for disarmament, stressing that peace must begin within individuals. “We are also invited to disarm the weapons within our own hearts,” he said, describing peace as “not merely a destination—it is a journey and a way of life.”
He underscored the responsibility of religious communities in peacebuilding, warning against the misuse of faith in political and ethnic conflicts. “All of us share the responsibility to prevent the abuse of God’s name,” he said, calling prayer, spiritual practice, and interreligious dialogue “noble and essential paths to peace.”
The cardinal ended his message with an appeal for concrete action, especially for those on the margins. “Let the voices of the weak, the poor, and the refugees be heard,” he said. “Let peace be shown not only in words, but proven through actions.”
Despite war, terrorism, and inequality, Bo said peace remains humanity’s deepest need. “Hatred and violence arise from human weakness,” he said, “but forgiveness and mercy are the strengths that rebuild humanity.”
