This Wednesday, King Charles III thanked the medical treatment he received during his illness and recalled the hardships faced by victims of conflicts in the world in his third Christmas message.
In a pre-recorded address at London’s Fitzrovia Chapel and broadcast at 1500 GMT on radio and television, the 76-year-old sovereign referred to “the thousands of professionals and volunteers in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth who, with their skill and out of the goodness of their hearts, they care for others, often at a cost to themselves.
“We all go through some form of suffering at some stage of our lives, whether mental or physical,” said the monarch, who has been undergoing cancer treatment since February. “The degree to which we help each other – and receive support from others, whether we are people of faith or not – is a measure of our civilization as nations.”
Personal thanks
“From a personal point of view, I want to express a special and sincere thank you to the doctors and nurses who, this year, supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of the illness, and helped provide the strength, care and comfort we needed,” he declared. At the same time, showed his gratitude to all who offered “their kind words of sympathy and encouragement.”
After remembering the veterans he met in June during the 80th anniversary of D-Day of the Second World War, he noted that, in previous years, it was thought that “such tragic events rarely occur in the modern era. However, in this Christmas Day we can’t stop thinking about those for whom the devastating effects of the conflict – in the Middle East, in Central Europe, in Africa and elsewhere – pose a daily threat to lives and livelihoods,” he said.
Faith and culture
Charles III, who is also supreme ruler of the Church of England, mentioned “the humanitarian organizations that work tirelessly to bring vital aid” and reflected that the example that Jesus gave when helping those who suffer “It is timeless and universal.”
The sovereign, who is also head of the Commonwealth, added that by attending the assembly of its leaders in October he was able to confirm again “how diversity of culture, ethnicity and faith provides strength, not weakness.”
“Once again, listening is a recurring theme in the Nativity story. Mary, the mother of Jesus, listened to the Angel who revealed to her a different future full of hope for all people,” he said. “This remains true today for people of good will around the world. And it is with this in mind that I wish you and all your loved ones a Christmas full of joy and peace.”
