Urbi et orbi
Pope Francis preaches to a few believers
Pope Francis at this year's Christmas Eve Mass
© imago images / ZUMA Wire
The annual Christmas blessing of the head of the Catholic Church urges the world to pay attention to each other in the year of the corona pandemic.
This year's papal Christmas blessing urbi et orbi turned out differently than in previous years, due to the corona virus, St. Peter's Square in Rome was deserted during the address. A 28 meter high spruce from Slovenia was enthroned alone over the central square of the Catholic Church. Inside, Pope Francis (84) spoke to a small group of selected believers, all of whom wore face masks.
Words of warning
In his Christmas blessing, the head of the Catholic Church recalled the most pressing problems in the world. "At this historic moment, which is shaped by ecological, social and societal upheavals that are exacerbated by the corona pandemic, we need fraternity more than ever." It is given to people by God in the form of Jesus Christ and the key to overcoming the most pressing problems of humanity.
The Pope referred to charity and warned of the dangers of ignorant individualism in dealing with the global pandemic and called on politicians to take decisive action: "The virus of individualism must not win over our brothers and sisters. I cannot advance myself set the others. Nothing beats the law of love and the common good of society. May the Son of God move those who are in charge of government and politics to a new international cooperation. "