Pope Francis has praised a brand-new Christmas song featuring Christian singers in Bethlehem and London.
Hear Angels Cry features the voice of Youstina Safar of Bethlehem and Cherrie Anderson from the London-based electronic pop duo Ooberfuse.
Sung in English and Arabic, the three-and-a-half minute song is now available on Youtube, Spotify or can be bought via Amazon.
The Pope says he “trusts” the song will inspire “many people” to pray for the “flourishing of peace” in the Holy Land.
He wrote to Cardinal Nichols on December 6 saying he was “pleased to learn” of the song which sought “to draw attention to the sublime significance of the city where Jesus Christ was born.”
In the message sent to the Cardinal from the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope said: “Indeed the land which was home to the Prince of Peace is called to be a place of encounter, dialogue and hope for all.”
The message concludes saying: “His Holiness trusts that this musical initiative will inspire many people this Christmas to pray for a new flourishing of fraternal solidarity, reconciliation and peace in the Holy Land.”
“Hear Angels Cry, Hope is Born Tonight” is the chorus of the song, whose video shows a CGI-image of an angel with spread wings, standing in front of CGI landscapes of rubble resembling Gaza, and individual children near a Christmas tree in Bethlehem.
Proceeds will go to the charity Friends of the Holy Land, to help vulnerable Christians, especially children in Gaza.
Brendan Metcalfe, the charity’s CEO told The Tablet: “What is happening over there is absolutely terrible.Our supporters, especially younger ones can’t bear to watch on tv what is happening. We’ve tried to make the song a light in the darkness.”
The UK-based charity has an office in Bethlehem, so is well-placed to make bank transfers of the song’s proceeds for the urgent relief of the suffering in Gaza.
Earlier this year, Anderson of Ooberfuse met the charity while visiting the Holy Land with the band, which performed at World Youth Day in Lisbon.
The idea for the song was mooted. Production with RJ Music, a Bethlehem-based music producer run by John Handal began in June, a time when “we never anticipated the cancellation of Christmas displays in Bethlehem,” said Anderson.
Handal introduced Anderson to Safar, a Christian who is studying medicine at Bethlehem University.
Youstina Safar said: “In the midst of despair, our song Hear Angels Cry stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of hope in Bethlehem. While the traditional Christmas displays may dim this year in remembrance of lives lost in Gaza, our voices unite to affirm that hope will never succumb to darkness.”
Earlier, it was announced that David Fussell, a homeless film director, and Oooberfuse have joined forces with rapper Snoop Dogg to challenge hidden prejudices around homelessness and raised funds to help homeless people through Central London Catholic Churches, a consortium of volunteer groups from different Catholic churches in Central London, based at Farm Street Church in London.
Please donate to: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/Appeal/angels-cry
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