In his Christmas Message to the People of God in Southern Africa, Cardinal Stephen Brislin, President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), invites the faithful to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation as a source of hope in a world marked by conflict, division, and uncertainty.

Addressing “brothers and sisters in Christ,” the Cardinal situates the celebration of Christmas at the manger in Bethlehem, where “the true Light entered our world.” In the newborn Child, he writes, God reveals His closeness to humanity — a desire “to dwell among us, to heal us, and to lead us into the fullness of life.”

Reflecting on the year drawing to a close, Cardinal Brislin notes that it has been a significant and demanding period for both the Church and the global community. He observes that in many parts of the world, the light of Christmas is overshadowed by “war, genocide, hunger, and ongoing human rights abuses”, particularly in regions such as Sudan, the Holy Land, and Ukraine. He also highlights growing global divisions, increased authoritarianism, and the weakening of multilateral cooperation, trends that undermine care for others and for the common home.

Turning to the South African context, Cardinal Brislin acknowledges persistent challenges, including crime, corruption, weak accountability, and failures in service delivery, all of which continue to affect the poor and the vulnerable most severely. He notes that repeated revelations of corruption risk leading to “scandal fatigue,” while attacks against migrants and refugees remain “a smear on our humanity.” At the same time, he points to the recent G20 preparations as an example of what can be achieved when there is political will and commitment to effective governance.

Cardinal Brislin situates these reflections within the Church’s recent journey, recalling the Jubilee of Hope inaugurated by Pope Francis. He pays tribute to the late Pope, whose death shortly after Easter was mourned worldwide, remembering him as a pastor who gave voice to the poor and those on the margins. Quoting Romans 8, the Cardinal recalls Pope Francis’s enduring assurance that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

He also reflects on the election of Pope Leo XIV, noting that in the early months of his pontificate, the Holy Father has offered leadership marked by humility, conviction, and outreach. The Cardinal refers to the Pope’s first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te, which calls the Church to renewed commitment to the Gospel imperative of love for the poor, and to the Holy Father’s insistence that the Holy See “will not be a silent bystander” in the face of injustice and human rights violations.

In the message, Cardinal Brislin also recalls President Cyril Ramaphosa’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Rome, during which peace efforts, economic inequality, and Africa’s debt burden were discussed, in line with South Africa’s G20 priorities.

Concluding his message, Cardinal Brislin expresses gratitude for the faith, generosity, and resilience of Catholics throughout Southern Africa, highlighting the “quiet heroism” lived out daily in families, parishes, and communities. He encourages the faithful to renew their commitment to prayer, the Sacraments, and the Scriptures, and to allow Christ’s light to guide personal and social life.

Entrusting the people of God to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he prays that “the peace of the newborn Christ” may fill homes and hearts now and throughout the coming year, wishing all a blessed and joyful Christmas.