The Pope has called Christmas a ‘charade’ during a sermon in which he reflected on recent atrocities around the world.
Among the acts of inhumanity he denounced were the Paris attacks, which left 129 dead and the bombing of a Russian airliner over Egypt, which killed all 224 people on board.
Christmas festivities will seem empty in a world which has chosen ‘war and hate’, Pope Francis said yesterday at the Vatican.
‘Christmas is approaching: there will be lights, parties, Christmas trees and nativity scenes… it’s all a charade. The world continues to go to war. The world has not chosen a peaceful path,’ he said in the Mass at the chapel of the Santa Marta residence. There are wars today everywhere, and hate,’ he said after the worst terror attack in French history, the bombing of the Russian plane, a double suicide bombing in Lebanon, and a series of other deadly strikes.
We should ask for the grace to weep for this world, which does not recognise the path to peace. To weep for those who live for war and have the cynicism to deny it,‘ the Argentine pontiff said, adding: ‘God weeps, Jesus weeps.’
The sermon threw a shadow over the start of the festive season at the Vatican, where a giant Christmas tree was unveiled.