Value Little Things In Life, Show Solidarity With Poor: Pope Francis’ Call For Humility On Christmas Eve

"Let us not lose sight of heaven; let us care for Jesus now, caressing him in the needy, because in them he makes himself known," the Pope said to the faithfuls.

Pope Francis addresses the faithfuls during the Christmas Eve mass at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, on December 24, 2021 | Photo: AFP

New Delhi: In his Christmas eve mass at St Peter's Basilica on Friday, Pope Francis stressed having humility and to value the little things in life. He called on the faithful to show solidarity with the poor as reported by AFP. 

“Jesus asks us to rediscover and value little things in life,” he said. 

As the world celebrated Christmas for the second time during the pandemic, around 2000 members of the public and 200 religious figures attended the Christmas eve mass, wearing masks and respecting the social distance. Many others who could not get a ticket watched on large screens outside the St Peter’s Basilica.

The Pope recalled the shepherds in the tale of nativity, who lived a modest life and had witnessed the birth of Jesus. "That is where Jesus is born: close to them, close to the forgotten ones of the peripheries. He comes where human dignity is put to the test," said the 85-year-old Argentinian pontiff.

Remembering the shepherds, the Pope called for dignity for labour and lamented that many people die in workplace accidents around the world. “On the day of Life, let us repeat: no more deaths in the workplace! And let us commit ourselves to ensure this", he said.

He called for people to seek out “littleness” — in “our daily lives, the things we do each day at home, in our families, at school and in the workplace.” 

The former Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Begoglio, the Pope stressed more solidarity with people living in poverty. "On this night of love, may we have only one fear: that of offending God's love, hurting him by despising the poor with our indifference," he said. 

The Pope also quoted a line from a poem by famous poet Emily Dickinson, "Who has found the heaven - below - will fail of it above." He added his own words to this line,  "Let us not lose sight of heaven; let us care for Jesus now, caressing him in the needy, because in them he makes himself known," reported AFP.