Sydneysiders get clear Christmas message: 'Think of others'

Hundreds of worshippers at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral were urged today to think of those less fortunate than themselves.

Catholic Cardinal George Pell led a Christmas morning mass at the inner-city cathedral where it was standing room only.

Dr Pell said the number of visitors to the cathedral was high in the lead-up to Christmas.

"I wonder if it was a reaction to the Cronulla riots ..., a rejection of cowardly violence," Dr Pell said during his sermon.

It was the riots in Cronulla on December 11 and the violence that followed which seemed to be the motivation for Dr Pell's special Christmas message yesterday in which he called for racial tolerance.

"There are pockets of racists among us but criminal racism is rare and therefore untypical," he said yesterday.

"During this summer-holiday season let us show the world what Australia really is like -- fundamentally decent, tolerant and law-abiding.

Today, Dr Pell said the general Christmas message was clear.

"At Christmas we should be thinking of others, especially those less fortunate, and not thinking of ourselves," he said.

"Christmas is God thinking of us. I pray that every blessing will be in your hearts."

Meanwhile, 1000 worshippers of more than 30 different nationalities and ethnic groups were expected to attend a special service hosted by the Wesley Mission in the city.

Wesley Mission Superintendent the Reverend Gordon Moyes said he would preach his final sermon to Sydney's homeless today and also hand out gifts to more than 180 residents of Edward Eagar Lodge in Surry Hills.

Dr Moyes leaves Wesley Mission on December 31 after leading the church-based charity group for the past 27 years.

- AAP