Status: December 24th, 2021 8:49 pm
Pope Francis celebrated Christmas mass in Rome under Corona conditions. The head of the Catholic Church called for abandoning greed and recognizing God in simple everyday gestures.
At Christmas, Pope Francis called on people to be humble. “God reveals himself, but people don’t understand him,” said the head of the Catholic Church during Christmas mass on Christmas Eve in St. Peter’s Basilica. It is the great challenge of Christmas to recognize God in small things: “God descends and we want to climb onto the pedestal. Jesus was born to serve and we spend our years chasing after success.”
According to Francis, the “grace of smallness” means recognizing and accepting God in simple everyday gestures. “If he’s there with us, what is wrong with us? So let’s not cry for the size that we don’t have. Let’s stop whining and long faces and let go of the greed that always unsatisfies us leaves!”
With mask and minimum distance
The 85-year-old celebrated Christmas Eve again this year under Corona conditions. Around 1,500 believers from all over the world and members of the diplomatic corps took part in the service in St. 26 cardinals and 18 bishops of the Roman Curia celebrated together with Francis. Because of the corona requirements, they had to wear masks and keep the minimum distance. It is the ninth Christmas celebrations for the 85-year-old as head of the church.
At 13 degrees and a gray sky, a few hundred people celebrated Holy Night in front of the basilica on St. They could follow the service on big screens. The Italian authorities have tightened some measures against the pandemic, which is why the Vatican brought the Christmas mass forward. However, stays outdoors are still possible. As in previous years, there were increased security precautions around the Vatican.