Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the faithful gathered for his general audience meet in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, urged Christians to make Jesus the centre of all celebrations and conveyed that the celebration of the birth of Jesus is a sign of gratitude towards the Almighty Father. His Holiness highlighted that we can welcome God’s gift of Jesus by making a free gift of ourselves to those we encounter.
As reported by Vatican radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “Today, especially in Europe, there is a distortion of Christmas, which in the name of a false respect, sidelines faith and eliminates every reference to the birth of Jesus.” Further, His Holiness added, “Without Jesus, there is no Christmas. The lights, sounds, various local traditions, including food, all go to create the atmosphere of a true Christmas, only if Jesus is the centre.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his remarks by reminding the faithful about the significance of helping the marginalized people and reflected that God wants to build a new world where there is no one who is rejected, maltreated and destitute.
