Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, has criticised those who pursue riches and power at the expense of others and urged them to imitate Jesus Christ, the Christian deity who was impoverished during his time on earth.
Pope Francis used Jesus' lowly origins in a stable to chastise people who are "ravenous" for riches and power at the expense of the weak, especially children, in a Christmas Eve sermon that denounced war, poverty, and selfish materialism. This was reported by the Associated Press from Vatican City.
Christians worldwide, including those in Nigeria, commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25 each year.
Around 7,000 visitors and pilgrims flocked to the stunning St. Peter's Basilica to witness Francis officiate at evening Mass as the sun set. They formed a line behind the pontiffs in their white robes.
He gleaned a lot from the humble origins of Jesus in a manger.
According to Francis, individuals in our culture "devour even their neighbours, their brothers and sisters, in their thirst for riches and power," while animals are fed in their stalls.
“How many wars have we seen? And in how many places, even today, are human dignity and freedom treated with contempt?”
Without referencing a specific war or scenario, Francis remarked, “As always, the principal victims of this human greed are the weak and vulnerable.”
Reading his sermon with a voice that sounded fatigued and nearly hoarse, the pope said, “This Christmas, too, as in the case of Jesus, a world ravenous for money, power, and pleasure does not make room for the little ones, for the so many unborn, poor, and forgotten children.”
“I think, above all, the children devoured by war, poverty and injustice.”