He says that such hopelessness leads to a loss of faith in the political system, even in light of the recent G20 summit preparations, which demonstrated what can be achieved when there is political will to rehabilitate and improve state functioning.
Besides the situation of South Africa, Cardinal Brislin says that this year’s Christmas Season is also coming at the time the world is experiencing conflicts of different magnitude include the ongoing civil wars in Sudan, in the Middle East and in Ukraine.
“This Christmas brings to a close a momentous year - for us as the Catholic faithful and for the peoples of the world. It is a time of great uncertainty. In so many places it is difficult for people to experience the Light of Christmas as darkness and despair overwhelm them,” he says.
He adds, “The world remains besieged by deadly conflicts and the repercussions of genocide. The global family is becoming more divided and competitive rather than compassionate and cooperative.”
Cardinal Brislin laments that human beings in the contemporary world are now moving further away from care for others and the common home as societal culture gravitates more towards selfishness, abuse and consumption.
“We can only despair at the lack of concern for high levels of starvation and continuing human rights abuses in conflict zones such as the Sudan, the Holy Land and Ukraine,” the SACBC president says.
He also expresses concern over what he terms as “a worrying trend of increasing authoritarianism, threatening respect for the rule of law, the undermining of multilateralism and a narrow nationalistic worldview.”
“The season of Advent reminded us to remain watchful and hopeful, even in these uncertain times, and to prepare ourselves to fully embrace the gift of Christ's coming at Christmas,” he says, noting that the Catholic family has been on a journey of grace and enlightenment from last Christmas when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica to begin the Jubilee of Hope.
During the 2025 Christmas Season, the South African Cardinal, who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 2007 as Bishop of South Africa’s Kroonstad Catholic Diocese offers “a special word of gratitude for the steadfast faith, generosity, and resilience shown by Catholics throughout South Africa.”
“In our parishes, missions, schools, and homes, I witness daily the quiet heroism of ordinary believers: families praying together, young people searching sincerely for God's will, communities supporting the poor, and countless individuals working for peace, reconciliation, and justice in our land and further afield,” he says.
