«Breaking News» The Pope declares Christmas should not be about swapping presents

Pope Francis has said Christmas cannot just be about swapping presents and indulging in a massive consumer binge.

Speaking during his regular open audience in the Vatican, the pontiff urged Catholics to remember Christmas' original purpose: to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

'The advertising machine tells us we have to exchange more and more new presents to give us a surprise. But is that the sort of celebration that God wants?' Pope Francis asked.

'No, Christmas is about listening to the silent voice of God,' he said.

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Pope Francis warned against the commercialization of Christmas. Pictured upon his arrival to the weekly general audience in Paul VI hall on Wednesday

'Please, I ask you, let us not turn Christmas into a fashionable event!

'It is not Christmas if we seek out the bright lights, if we load up on presents but then don't help even one poor person,' said the Pope, who is well known for his criticism of social inequality and injustices. 

He added: 'To welcome the Savior there are no powerful people, no ambassadors, just simple shepherds, surprised by the angels while working at night.

'But it is on the night of Christmas that the biggest surprise comes: The Most High is a small child. To celebrate Christmas, then, is to welcome the surprises of Heaven on earth.' 

His latest address comes just a day after he warned politicians of the dangers of exploiting nationalism and fear of foreigners to undermine the trust essential to their task of binding societies together, not dividing them.

On Tuesday this week the Pope also warned politicians about the dangers of promoting nationalism

Trust based on an 'authentic political life, grounded in law and in frank and fair relations between individuals... is never easy to achieve,' the pope said in a message released Tuesday which will be used to mark World Peace Day on January 1.

This is because 'human relations are complex, especially in our own times, marked by a climate of mistrust rooted in the fear of others or of strangers, or anxiety about one's personal security,' he said.

'Sadly, it is also seen at the political level, in attitudes of rejection or forms of nationalism that call into question the fraternity of which our globalised world has such great need.

'Today more than ever, our societies need 'artisans of peace'.

'Political addresses that tend to blame every evil on migrants and to deprive the poor of hope are unacceptable,' he added in the message entitled: 'Good politics at the service of peace.'

Pope Francis also warned against corruption and the pursuit of personal ambition at the expense of wider society, saying that when rulers look out only for themselves, the future is compromised, especially for the younger generations which become marginalised.

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/19/the-pope-declares-christmas-should-not-be-about-swapping-presents/
Main photo article Pope Francis has said Christmas cannot just be about swapping presents and indulging in a massive consumer binge.
Speaking during his regular open audience in the Vatican, the pontiff urged Catholics to remember Christmas’ original purpose: to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.
‘The a...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca





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