“May Love Vanquish Evil”

The year 2003 was full of continuous terror acts and war. Christmas celebrations took place in a more troubled atmosphere than ever before.

“May Love Vanquish Evil,” Says the Pope--Pope John Paul II, with frail health at age 83, again pleaded for world peace during a midnight mass in St. Peter`s Basilica on December 25 (local time).

The pontiff prayed that “the Lord’s message of love may guide us to escape the snares of the evil and to comprehend the preciousness of all lives” during his Christmas Eve message broadcasted live in 48 nations.

Before mass, Italian police stepped up its surveillance around St. Peter’s Basilica with concerns of terror, while mass attendees had to pass a metal detector upon entering the Basilica.

Before the Pope came to mass, an Italian combatant police band played fanfare in memory of the 19 Italian soldiers who lost their lives in the bombing at Nasiriya, Iraq, last month.

Iraq Forgoes Midnight Mass--The New York Times reported that most Iraqi churches are forgoing midnight mass due to the continuing conflict between Iraqi resistance and the U.S. army and have decided to hold daytime mass on December 24 and 25 instead.

Within Baghdad, the Catholic Church in Southern Dora, where many Christians live, held a Christmas mass for children at 4:30 p.m. on December 24. Father Parres Thomas of this church emphasized, “Bombs are going off at unexpected places on unexpected times. Our greatest wish is peace.”

Bethlehem devoid of Christmas joys-- The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel eased its passage restriction to Bethlehem, Jesus’ birthplace, for pilgrims and Christians on Christmas Eve.

However, Bethlehem residents, tired of economic difficulties and bloodshed, coldly said “There is nothing to celebrate,” and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat did not attend the Christmas Eve celebrations for the third year in a row.

Meanwhile, the NORAD, which provides information to children of Santa Claus’ route on Christmas Eve each year, announced on December 24 (local time), ”Santa will have to pass Canada and the U.S. through the sky due to their strengthened security measures.”

Rae-Jeong Park ecopark@donga.com