Speaking during a Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter s Basilica, the pontiff said Jesus’ birth showed that God is present in every human being. The service marked the pope’s first Christmas celebration since his election in May and was attended by around 6,000 people inside the basilica.
“On earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person. To refuse one is to refuse the other,” Pope Leo said, as he led the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics into Christmas.
The 70-year-old pope, the first U.S.-born pontiff, was elected to succeed the late Pope Francis. Care for migrants and the poor has been a central theme of his early papacy, and he has previously criticised the immigration policies of Donald Trump.
During the homily, Pope Leo quoted the late Pope Benedict XVI, lamenting a world that fails to care for children, the poor and foreigners.
“While a distorted economy leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise, God becomes like us, revealing the infinite dignity of every person,” he said. “Where there is room for the human person, there is room for God. Even a stable can become more sacred than a temple.”
Outside the basilica, around 5,000 people watched the service on large screens in St. Peter s Square, braving heavy rain while holding umbrellas and wearing ponchos. Pope Leo briefly greeted the crowd before the Mass, thanking them for their determination to attend despite the weather.
On Thursday, the pope is scheduled to celebrate Christmas Day Mass and deliver the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” message and blessing to the city and the world.
