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'Remember Christ at Christmas'
24/12/2006 22:59 - (SA)
Vatican City - Pope Benedict urged the
world on Sunday not to shut Christ out of Christmas and to
banish prejudices hindering peace.
Speaking at his Sunday blessing the Pope returned to a theme
that has preoccupied him - the commercialisation of Christmas.
"May his birth not find us busy celebrating Christmas
forgetting that he (Jesus) is the very person at the centre of
the feast," he told thousands of pilgrims and tourists in St
Peter's Square on Christmas Eve.
Ahead of the second Christmas of his pontificate he urged
his listeners to remember the many people around the world who
would pass it "in solitude, in sickness and in suffering".
The real spirit of Christmas was a commitment to "overcome
prejudices, break down barriers and eliminate situations that
pit individuals and people against each other in order to build
a world of justice and peace together", the Pope said.
In recent weeks he has spoken out against the decision by
some state schools in Italy not to build the traditional
nativity scene for fear of offending non-Christians in a
multi-racial population.
The Vatican's own larger-than-life nativity scene -
featuring figures of the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds,
animals and three kings bearing gifts - was unveiled in St
Peter's Square on Sunday evening.
The Pope looked on from his window and lit a candle
symbolising the desire for peace in the world.
- Reuters
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