Pope Francis: Christmas has taken ‘hostage’ by materialism

World News Adina Camarasu
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Pope Francis officiated on Saturday night at the Vatican, the traditional Christmas dinner, during which the leader of the Roman Catholic Church said that the meaning of Christmas was taken ‘hostage’ by materialism.

During this special service organized with increased security measures, the pontiff also denounced the continuous suffering of children worldwide, according to BBC.

Pope Francis has mentioned the people who are suffering from hunger, the immigrants who are facing all sorts of dangers on their way to Europe and those in the bombed Syrian cities, such as Aleppo.

The faithful ones, who took part in the religious service held on Saturday evening in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, had to go through multiple security filters that were endowed with metal detectors.

David Willey, the BBC correspondent in Vatican, said that among those who attended the service there was a certain feeling of insecurity caused by the recent terrorist attacks in Europe.

The service that celebrated the birth of Jesus is the first major event of the Christmas season for Pope Francis and included the traditional public blessing that the Pope granted during the Christmas Day at noon.

During the meal on Saturday evening, Pope Francis said that the meaning of Christmas was taken ‘hostage’ by materialism and this season of holidays needs more ‘humility’.

‘People are now living in an era in which the lights of the trade the light of God in the shadow, in which we are too concerned about gifts and show too little interest to those who are marginalized’, said Pope Francis.

Over the last year, Pope Francis urged the faithful to express their compassion for the refugees, asking them to remember that Jesus himself was an immigrant.