King Philippe speaks of “common good” on Christmas

King Philippe of the Belgians spoke of the “common good” during his annual Christmas address to the Belgian people.

His Majesty stressed that the good belongs to everyone, which allows us to “live together with dignity and safety, in a healthy and just world.”

King Philippe said protecting the environment is one way to defend the common good and promote peace. He took the opportunity to reaffirm his continued support for Ukraine following the Russian invasion in 2022.

“We must not allow ourselves to be played off against each other. Together, our democracies are much stronger than is sometimes realised,” he said.

King Philippe touched on the Belgian government’s budget negotiations and how he’s met first responders, maintenance and neighbourhood committees who feel abandoned.

He then called on the Belgian government to “finally agree on a program serving the common good.”

Concluding, he told the Belgian people, “During the holiday season, we celebrate the bonds that unite us with our loved ones. Let us be aware that, in difficult times, caring for our common good strengthens our unity.”

The pre-recorded message was filmed in the library of the Castle of Laeken in Brussels – the private residence of the monarch. He filmed a version in each of the three official languages of Belgium: Dutch, French and German.