Vatican City, Dec 2, 2012 / 10:57 am
Pope Benedict XVI has said Advent is a time to extend God's "kingdom of love" and to reflect on the coming of Jesus into the world.
"Amid the turmoil of the world, or the deserts of indifference and materialism, Christians accept salvation from God and witness with a different way of life, like a city set on a hill," said Pope Benedict during his Dec. 2 Angelus comments at St. Peter's Square.
The pontiff said that the community of believers is "a sign of the love of God, his justice that is present in the history but that is not yet fully realized, and that we therefore must always be waiting and seeking it with courage and patience."
He said Advent begins a new liturgical year that this year is "further enriched" by the Year of Faith, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council.