Pope Francis urged Christians to forgo the greed, gluttony and materialism of Christmas and to focus instead on its message of simplicity, charity and love.
Francis celebrated a Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, opening a busy week for the Pope that includes a Christmas Day message and blessing, a December 26 prayer, New Year's Eve vespers and a January 1 Mass.
During his homily Monday in Rome, Francis lamented that many people find their life's meaning in possessions when the biblical story of Christ's birth emphasises that God appeared to people who were poor when it came to earthly possessions, but faithful.
"Standing before the manger, we understand that the food of life is not material riches but love, not gluttony but charity, not ostentation but simplicity," Francis said, dressed in simple white vestments.
"An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when paradoxically a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive," he said.
