Pope Francis has given his views on the upcoming Christmas celebrations saying the annual festivities will seem empty in a world which has chosen “war and hate.”
The Pope’s sombre comments come in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Europe and the Middle East, Pope Francis gave an emotional sermon in which he said “Jesus wept, Christmas is approaching. There will be lights, parties, Christmas trees and nativity scenes… It’s all a charade. The world continues to go to war. The world has not chosen a peaceful path.”
The pontiff continued: “There are wars today everywhere, and hate,” he said after the worst terror attack in French history, the bombing of a Russian airliner, a double suicide bombing in Lebanon, and a series of other deadly strikes.” We should ask for the grace to weep for this world, which does not recognise the path to peace. To weep for those who live for war and have the cynicism to deny it.”
The Holy Father ended his sermon saying: “God weeps, Jesus weeps.” The pontiff’s latest sermon comes within a matter of days of him condemning those for responsible for terrorist attacks in Paris where a 129 people tragically lost their lives, saying the attacks were ‘not human’ and those who carried out the atrocities should not us the name of God to justify “violence and hatred”.