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VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis expressed deep concern on Sunday that the timeless message of peace heralded by Jesus is being drowned out by the "futile logic of war" in the very land of his birth, Bethlehem.
Leading the world's Roman Catholics into Christmas, the pontiff, celebrating the 11th Christmas of his pontificate, delivered a solemn Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, addressing the ongoing war in the Holy Land during his homily.
"Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world," said Francis.
At 87 years old, the pontiff emphasized that the true essence of Christmas lies in peace and love. He urged people to refrain from being consumed by worldly success and cautioned against the "idolatry of consumerism".
He spoke of “the all-too-human thread that runs through history: the quest for worldly power and might, fame and glory, which measures everything in terms of success, results, numbers and figures, a world obsessed with achievement”.
“Tonight, love changes history,” he said.
Why is Bethlehem Important?
Bethlehem, the biblical city where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born more than 2,000 years ago, cancelled its annual Christmas celebrations, typically a major draw for thousands of tourists.
Local leaders took this step last month in a demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinian population, as the war on the Gaza Strip persists.
More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s air and ground offensive, and nearly 85% of the strip’s total population has been displaced.
