Instead of giving in to the discouragement caused by a constant barrage of bad news in the media, Pope Benedict XVI advised Christians to look a little deeper in order to discover a better world that is too often hidden in the shadows of life.

Reuters is reporting that the Pope made his comments during a Mass of thanksgiving in St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday.

“Evil makes more noise than goodness: a heinous murder, widespread violence, serious injustices make the news; on the other hand acts of love and service…commonly remain in the shadows,” he said.

“We can’t just stop at the news if we want to understand the world and life, we have to be capable of standing in silence, in meditation, in calm and prolonged reflection, we have to know how to stop and think.”

His remarks are in keeping with the uplifting theme of his World Day of Peace message for January 1, 2013, which encouraged people to hope for peace.

“Peace is not a dream or something utopian; it is possible,” he says in the message.

During these times, which are marked by violent conflicts, economic crises, and attacks on life and religious liberty, Christians should cling to the Gospel message, knowing that Jesus will never leave them to face the world alone.

“In the eyes of the world, those who trust in God and his promises often appear naive and far from reality,” he writes.

“Yet Jesus tells them that not only in the next life, already in this life, they will discover that they are children of God, and that they are not alone, because he is on the side of those committed to truth, justice and love.”

In addition to being issued for the sake of the faithful, the World Day of Peace message was also sent to heads of state, government and institutions such as the United Nations earlier in December.

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