A New Years Message - from the Vatican to the Holy See.

Thanks to a dear loved one, I had the extraordinary opportunity to spend Christmas at the Vatican.

Already the mystical and magical city of Rome is an extraordinary place to be – where ever you look there is another reminder of the depths of our shared history, of what has come before. There is so, so much more than just the 366 churches, the city literally vibrates the era of Roman rule.On the night of 24th December we attended midnight mass in the Basilica with the pope and his huge entourage – it was like being in a dream world. In all the places of worship that I have ever visited I have never ever experienced the wonderous and very particular energy of the inside of the Vatican.

The rituals were all perfectly executed: the processions of the holy men, the incense, the beautiful voices of the choir as they responded to the prayers, the bows before the crucifix and the Virgin Mary. And in line with the multi-cultural values of Pope Francis, parts of the service were read in Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French.

Probably an unusual diversion from what had come before. It all felt very beautiful and meaningful.Then there was the Pope’s homily where he shared his signature message that we should all learn to live with less. ‘Let us ask ourselves’, he said, ‘Do I really need all of these material objects and complicated recipes for living?’ Whilst as we all know Pope Francis is very committed to the poor, in the glory of the Vatican his words caused some confusion for me.Now I know how we like to hang on to tradition. But the golden crucifixes and other artefacts on that eve of 24th December, and the pomp and circumstance that I experienced on 25th December both in St Peter’s Square and in the back stage of the Vatican, the Swiss Guards, the orchestras, and the other Vatican guards and police, all seemed to point to the very ‘material objects and complicated recipes’ that the Pope was referring to.So whilst Pope Francis might decide to live in a small apartment as opposed to in the Vatican Palace, at the seat of the Catholic religion there is a complete lack of congruency with what the heart of the Catholic religion is really about.Now the essence of religion, any religion is tolerance and I do not seek to criticise nor pass judgement. I merely wish to share my confusion. And none of this spoiled the extraordinary and wonderful once in a lifetime experience. It was unforgettable, and the Christmas of 2018 is certainly one that I shall cherish forever. It served as a stern reminder of what I consider to be one of life’s laws, that today, and now more than ever it is our sacred duty to live completely in accordance with our values.And so from Rome I travelled onto the Red Sea where I have had time to consider 2018, and the true meaning of God and religion in my own life. And I have had time to connect with nature and the true meaning of the Holy See!Whilst the Pope might suggest that we should live with less, my prayer for us all is that all of our dreams come true in 2019. I believe that God wants us all to live in abundance – an abundance of comfort, an abundance of joy, an abundance of freedom, abundant health, abundant wealth, and of course and above all, an abundance of love.

May 2019 be a wonderful year for one and all.

Amen.