Pope says ‘our hearts are in Bethlehem’ as he presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s
VATICAN CITY — Recalling Jesus’ delivery in a secure in Bethlehem, Pope Francis in a Christmas Eve homily stated that “the clash of arms even today” prevents Jesus “from finding room in the world.”
The pontiff presided Sunday over the night Mass attended by about 6,500 devoted who took their place amid the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica behind rows of white-clad prelates.
“Our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, ” the pope stated, referring to the warfare sparked by Hamas’ lethal Oct. 7 rampage and hostage-taking in Israel.
As Mass started, a statuette of the Christ baby was unveiled earlier than the altar bedecked in greenery and white flowers, and youngsters representing all corners of the globe positioned flowers round a gilded throne.
Francis, draped in white robes, led the Mass standing on the foot of considered one of St. Peter’s grand columns.
Recalling that Jesus was born throughout a census meant to strengthen King David’s energy, Francis warned in opposition to “the quest for worldly power and might, fame and glory, which measures everything in terms of success, results, numbers and figures, a world obsessed with achievement.”
By distinction, Jesus entered the world humbly, taking human flesh. “Here, we see not a god of wrath and chastisement, but the God of mercy, who takes flesh and enters the world in weakness,’’ the pope said.
A pagan deity is linked to “power, worldly success and idolatry of consumerism,” the pope stated. “God, on the other hand, waves no magic want; he is no god of commerce who promises everything all at once. He does not save us by pushing a button, but draws near us, in order to change our world from within.”
When the Christmas Eve Mass ended, the pope, pushed in a wheelchair, moved down the basilica with the life-sized statue of Baby Jesus on his lap and flanked by kids carrying bouquets. The statue was positioned in a manger in a nativity scene within the basilica.
Francis, 87, has been utilizing a wheelchair to navigate lengthy distances on account of a painful knee ligament and a cane for shorter distances.
During the normal Angelus blessing overlooking St. Peter’s Square at noon, the pontiff remembered these affected by warfare, recalling particular combating in Ukraine and Israel’s bombardment and siege of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’ assault.
“We are close to our brothers and sisters suffering from war. We think of Palestine, Israel, Ukraine. We also think of those who suffer from misery, hunger, slavery,’’ Francis said. “May the God who took a human heart for himself infuse humanity into the hearts of men,” he added.
Speaking from the window of his studio to the hundreds of devoted gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer, the pontiff additionally invited the devoted “not to confuse celebration with consumerism. One can and, as a Christian, must celebrate in simplicity without waste and by sharing with those who lack necessities or lack companionship.”
Traditionally, Catholics mark Christmas Eve by attending Mass at midnight. But over time, the beginning time on the Vatican has crept earlier, reflecting the well being or stamina of popes after which the pandemic. The Vatican has stored a 7:30 p.m. time initially set throughout a pandemic curfew.
On Christmas Day, tens of hundreds of Romans, vacationers and pilgrims had been anticipated to crowd into St. Peter’s Square to listen to Pope Francis ship an handle on world points and provides his blessing. The speech, recognized in Latin as “Urbi et Orbi” (to the town and to the world), is historically an event to evaluation crises together with warfare, persecution and starvation, in lots of elements of the globe.
