Speaking from his residence at the Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby gave his ecumenical Christmas greeting filled with a realistic assessment of the world's problems as well as with plenty of encouragement for Christians.
The 58-year old Church of England Bishop mentioned the various sufferings in the current state of the world while encouraging Christians to have "a renewed and united spirit."
Archbishop Welby spoke of wars, the Ebola crisis, government corruption and other ills people face today. He compared the cruel acts of present day leaders to those of the time of Christ.
"The deceit and cruelty of governments and rulers has not changed in the 2000 years since King Herod. 2014 has been a year of desperate suffering for many Christians, unparalleled for centuries. Christian communities have been uprooted from the places that they have dwelt since within living memory of the time of Jesus."
He acknowledged the persecutions Christians face today as well as the economic problems in Europe that bring down the dignity of man. Archbishop Welby agreed with Pope Francis, saying selfishness must be rooted out from the Christian life or else many will suffer.
"Rightly, Pope Francis has said that the Mediterranean must not become a vast cemetery. Individualism and selfishness is causing countries to withdraw into themselves and look only after their own interests," Archbishop Welby stated.
Despite the initial negative tone, the Archbishop spread a message of love and the good he sees in the world in the latter part of the speech.
" I have been overwhelmed by the ecumenical love I have received, as well as by my reception in the Anglican Communion. One of the most moving meetings of the year was that of Christians from all over the middle-east and the Levant coming together at Lambeth Palace to pray for the future of their communities and to testify to their suffering and yet to their hope in Christ. The impressions of that day will not leave me."
The symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion then proceeded to encourage Christians to work together and be more Christ-like. He ended his ecumenical speech with a tone of hope and unity.
"During this season, let also the humility of the child Jesus draw us afresh into humble love into one another, a willingness to die to our preferences and privileges so that the people of God may live and reflect the unity in trinity of the God who held nothing back, not even his own son. Let us love the world as he loved it, so that the world may know that he is indeed, 'God with us'"