Pope Francis: Do not confuse Christmas with consumerism

 

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Dec. 24, 2023. / Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Dec 24, 2023 / 11:40 am (CNA).

On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis urged Christians not to confuse Christmas with consumerism but to celebrate the birth of Christ by sharing with those who are lonely and in need.

Speaking to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square from the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, the pope offered his greetings for a Christmas holiday full of “warmth, affection, and moderation.”

“And allow me to make one recommendation: Do not confuse celebration with consumerism,” Pope Francis said on Dec. 24.

“We can — and as Christians we must — celebrate in simplicity, without waste, and by sharing with those who lack necessities or lack companionship.”

A crowd gathers in St. Peter's Square to pray the Angelus with the pope on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2023. Vatican Media
A crowd gathers in St. Peter’s Square to pray the Angelus with the pope on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2023. Vatican Media

The pope said that we are called to reflect God’s kindness to others by “welcoming, protecting, and respecting others,” especially “those who are marginalized and who are far from the joy of Christmas these days.”

“And so, on Christmas Eve, let us ask ourselves: ‘Do I desire to allow myself to be enveloped by the shadow of the Holy Spirit, by the gentleness and meekness of God, by the kindness of the God, making room for him in my heart, drawing near to his forgiveness, to the Eucharist?’”

The pope also asked people to think of which lonely or needy people could be comforted by their friendship during the Christmas season.

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Dec. 24, 2023. Vatican Media
Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Dec. 24, 2023. Vatican Media

Pope Francis encouraged Christians to remember all who suffer from war, particularly in the Holy Land and Ukraine. “We also think of those who suffer from misery, from hunger, from slavery,” he added.

He prayed for the Lord “ to infuse humanity into the hearts of men” in the midst of war.

Pope Francis’ Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square marked the fourth Sunday of Advent, which falls on Christmas Eve this year. Catholics are asked to attend Mass twice between Dec. 23–25 this year for both Sunday and the solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

The pope will preside over a Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Rome time, which will be broadcast live on EWTN.


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


About Catholic News Agency 12522 Articles
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

2 Comments

  1. Yet another hackneyed truism proffered as the most profound insight by Bergoglio.

    A friend told me not long after Bergoglio had ascended to the papacy that “The guy is in over his head.”

    It’s still the best explanation I’ve heard for his chronic nincompoopery.

1 Trackback / Pingback

  1. Pope Francis: Do not confuse Christmas with consumerism – Via Nova

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.


*