London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Archbishop of Canterbury remembers Queen's example in Christmas message

Archbishop of Canterbury remembers Queen's example in Christmas message

In his first Christmas sermon since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Archbishop of Canterbury praised the late monarch's life of service.
The Queen "put her interest after those of the people she served", Justin Welby said.

His sermon also remembered those suffering "immense" hardship in the UK's cost-of-living crisis.

And despite darkness around the world, there is "unconquerable hope" in the birth of Jesus Christ, he said.

The archbishop referenced the "desperate struggles of hospital wards" as well as those who make journeys in small boats to reach the UK, as he delivered his annual Christmas Day message.

Mr Welby said the late Queen "in obedience to the Christ-child lived a life of service and put her interest after those of the people she served."

In his sermon at Canterbury Cathedral, he praised those who have acted with love and service towards others over the past year - including a 10-year-old girl he met volunteering at a food bank in Canterbury, people who have welcomed refugees into their homes, NHS staff and life-boat crews.

The archbishop expressed concern for those struggling with "immense anxiety and hardship" during the UK's cost-of-living crisis.

He said: "In Jesus Christ, God reaches out to each one of us here; to those who like his family have no resources, into the dark cells of prisons, into the desperate struggles of hospital wards, to those on small boats, to the despairing...and says: 'Take me into your heart and life, let me set you free from the darkness that surrounds and fills you, for I too have been there.

"And God says in me there is forgiveness, hope, life and joy, whoever and wherever you are, whatever you have done."

He appealed to South Sudan and Russia to end their respective wars, and said that "the world does watch, does care and will hold rulers responsible for justice".

He said: "Even where the world forgetfully turns a blind eye to injustice and suffering, pays no attention to a war, God is present through Jesus in the world... God does not give up on us."

"We are conscious of darkness" he said as he recalled standing next to a mass grave in a church yard in Bucha, Ukraine in the spring.

"Even in Bucha, among all the horror, the darkness does not overcome the light."

Separately in a joint Christmas message, Wales' Anglican and Catholic archbishops honoured "the memory of a selfless and dedicated Queen".

At Christmas Eve Mass in the Vatican, Pope Francis condemned human "hunger for wealth and power" in what appeared to be a reference to the Ukraine war and other conflicts.

He said "How many wars have we seen!" where the main victims were "the weak and the vulnerable".
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×