Merry Christmas.

To the cardinals of the conclave who elected the new pope, and to Benedict XVI, merry Christmas. Remember the future, please.

Merry Christmas to George Lucas, whose omega Star Wars film, Revenge of the Sith, ends an era. You have not forgotten the future.

To all who will continue to benefit from Social Security, merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to Dan Brown, author of the almost eternally popular The Da Vinci Code (Doubleday) and to all who have read this thriller. Enjoy the film.

To John Roberts, chief justice of the United States, merry Christmas. You and the pope are in for life.

Merry Christmas to the National Hockey League, whose teams returned to the ice and to their fans.

To all who remember Thomas Merton, now on the cutting room floor of the latest catechism, merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to the New England Patriots, once again super at the Super Bowl last January.

Merry Christmas to Tom Reese, S.J., whose many years as editor of America magazine moved the church into the future.

To our deafly departed: Father Clarence Rivers, pioneering Vatican II American liturgical musician; Frenchman Jacques Dupuis, S.J., whose embrace of all religions was truly Christian; Dorothy Stang, S.N.D. de N. murdered in Brazil for God's creation; Wayne Teasdale, author of The Mystic Heart (New World Library); and Brother Roger Schutz of Taize, founder of the Taize Community, harbor for the persecuted, inspiration to young people, and witness for peace, merry Christmas. Embrace and enjoy eternity.

Merry Christmas to C. Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans, and Kathleen Blanco, governor of Louisiana. May hurricane winds never again be either in your face or at your back.

To Archbishop William I. Levada, who has filled the old shoes of the new fisherman as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, merry Christmas. Should you rule with an iron fist, be sure to wear a velvet glove.

Merry Christmas to all blues living in red states and all reds living in blue states.

To Cindy Sheehan, mother of the late soldier Casey and war protester, merry Christmas. Thanks for being a conscience to this nation.

Merry Christmas to all who were present at the close of Second Vatican Council 40 years ago.

To all who make other people and companies rich at the gas pumps, merry Christmas. Follow the money.

Merry Christmas to W. Mark Felt, known for decades only as Deep Throat. Your secretly wise words were a gift to this country at a difficult moment.

To all in London at the time of the terrorist attacks, merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all who monkey around with the evolution of Intelligent Design.

Merry Christmas to the countless numbers of suffering who endured the force of nature through hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, and to those who extended helping hands.

PETER GILMOUR ([e-mail]) teaches at the Institute of Pastoral Studies of Loyola University Chicago.